It's Christmas Time

The Jazz Bus: It’s Christmas Time
I promised myself that this piece will have nothing to do with the spiritual side of Christmas, which is probably a sacrilegious way to look at a religious holiday, but my dear friend Barbara would expect nothing less from me. Rather than exposing what I feel is a commercial approach…oh sorry I promised, I will attempt to have some fun with the musical side of the “holiday season”. Imagine that inner warmth you get when you first hear Nat King Cole’s CHRISTMAS SONG, you know the tune about Chestnuts roasting. When was the last time you had a chestnut? Years ago the song would be played right after the Thanksgiving Day Parade to officially, in song, start the season. This year I heard it played the week after Labor Day.
Alright, my favorite holiday songs. See if you remember these. Bing Crosby WHITE CHRISTMAS, probably the finest version ever made, that crooner could sing. I can almost smell his pipe burning its tobacco. SLEIGH RIDE by a group that started as dancers for Joey Dee’s Peppermint Lounge to later become famous as The Ronettes, and Ronnie still belts it out each Christmas season, LETTERMAN December 15 and live at B.B. King’s December 17th. On my iPod you will find FELIZ NAVIDAD by Jose Feliciano; JINGLE BELL ROCK- Bobby Helm not to be outdone by Brenda Lee’s ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE followed by The Peanuts Gang (Vince Guaraldi Trio) CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE, and The King himself- Elvis- deeply belting out BaBaBa BLUE CHRISTMAS. Do you remember Little Jimmy Boyd’s moment where he SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS? a great novelty tune but not one to be found in my collection. I do have standards.
My Pop, while a fan of Bing Crosby did not like the version of LITTLE DRUMMER BOY/PEACE ON EARTH Bing did with David Bowie. Me, I can take it or leave it. But I do love Bob Dylan’s version found on his CHRISTMAS IN THE HEART, which I still can’t figure out if it was done “tongue in cheek”. Not one to enjoy choral selections, I do find the John Lennon and The Harlem Community Choir’s collaboration HAPPY XMAS-THE WAR IS OVER to be unsurpassed as a true theme of its time. And who could leave out THE CHIPMUNK SONG,” let’s not overdue it, Alvin, ALVIN”. Bruce Springsteen recorded SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN locally live at C.W. Post many a moon ago; The bells, drums, sax, the ho ho ho’s, a true E-Street highlight.
But my all time favorite is MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE FAMILY written by Robert Earl Keen and recorded by many artists over the years. I offer just a taste of the second stanza where he introduces only some of his dysfunctional relatives and you’ll be hooked.
Brother Ken brought his kids with him
The three from his first wife Lynn
And the two identical twins from his second wife Mary Nell
Of course he brought his new wife Kay
Who talks all about AA
Chain smoking while the stereo plays Noel, Noel
The First Noel

Feliz Navidad! From The Griswold’s. jazzbus@gmail.com