After much consideration of my 200+ holiday CD collection, as a public service I present the ten CD's that are essential for the holidays:
1. Holly Cole: Santa Baby - Live in Toronto
Holly's Christmas concerts are a holiday tradition in Canada. I have been fortunate enough to attend two in Vancouver, BC. Nothing says Christmas like Holly in a beautiful gown, singing with her amazing trio and a full orchestra. This IS Christmas.
2. Dianne Reeves: Christmas Time Is Here
This is an immaculate CD. Dianne's voice is pure and beautiful. Her arrangements are fresh. She achieves the impossible; she does The Christmas Waltz without making you yearn for Karen Carpenter, and Christmas Time Is Here without conjuring the omnipresent ghost of Charlie Brown. And her Little Drummer Boy is the best I have ever heard. Finally, this is a jazz Christmas CD without a hint of strings - pared down perfect elegance.
3. Etta James: Twelve Songs of Christmas
Killer arrangements and good song choices make this a great upbeat party CD, even though Etta sounds like she was hitting the spiked eggnog a few too many times on some tracks - it all adds to the fun.
4. Charles Brown: Cool Christmas Blues
The man who wrote Please Come Home For Christmas and Merry Christmas, Baby certainly should know a thing or two about Christmas songs. A great CD from a master.
5. B.B. King: A Christmas Celebration of Hope
The funny thing about this CD is that B.B. almost duplicates the aforementioned Charles Brown CD. It is interesting to compare their interpretations. That being said, this is also a wonderful, happy holiday CD, and B.B.'s Auld Lang Syne is a classic.
6. The Holly Cole Trio: Christmas Blues
Really an EP, this acoustic trio is simply beautiful.
7. Los Straitjackets: Tis the Season For Los Straitjackets
Good time guitar instrumentals will keep your holiday hoppin'!
8. Jingle Bell Jam: Jazz Christmas Classics
You gotta be careful with those pre-made compilations. They are sure to disappoint. This one, however, is so well chosen that almost ever track is a must-have. Classics from being to end.
9. Vince Guaraldi: A Charlie Brown Christmas
Yes, we are all overrun with this, but it IS a classic album, with great songs and a great performance. Is it Vince's fault that his masterpiece has become ubiquitous? Clear your head and give it a listen on its own, without the animation.
10. Loreena McKennitt: To Drive the Cold Winter Away
After all of this jazz and blues, you'll need a little classic Celtic soother. No one does it better than Loreena.
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