At JazzWax, 12 is the number of years I've posted annually on my selection for the JazzWax Vintage Holiday Album Hall of Fame. The point of this is to offer up perfect holiday music that conjures up feelings of a time long past or is just superbly executed seasonal music. Combined on your iTunes or Spotify playlist, all of these albums shuffled should do the trick this month.
My choice for induction this year is Christmas With the George Shearing Quintet. The Telarc release came out in 1999 and featured Don Thompson (vib), George Shearing (p), Reg Schwager (g), Neil Swainson (b) and Dennis Mackrel (d). You'll find this one here or at Spotify. [Pictured above, George Shearing at home]
Now meet the rest of the gang, in order of their year of selection, with links to buy or sample. Most are probably also available at Spotify...
2018—Gap Mangione's Family Holidays (2005).
2017—Doris Day: Complete Christmas Collection. (1964).
2016—Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas (1960).
2015—Two albums with the same name: Bobby Timmons' Holiday Soul and Don Patterson's Holiday Soul. Both trio albums were recorded for Prestige in Nov. 1964—the former on the 24th and the latter on the 25th.
2014—Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass: Christmas Album (1968).
2013—Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme's That Holiday Feeling! (1964).
2012—Duke Pearson: Merry Ole Soul (1969).
2011—Urbie Green: A Cool Yule Tide (1954).
2010—Eddie Higgins: Christmas Songs (2004).
2009—June Christy: This Time of Year (1961).
2008—Jo Stafford's Happy Holidays: I Love the Winter Weather (1950s).
