Dashing Through the No: Your Christmas Music Listening Guide, Part 1

With Christmas approaching quickly and radio stations turning to their repetitive list of Christmas "favorites," Jingle Bell Rock and Christmas Shoes can get really old, really fast. If you're like me and enjoy Christmas music but look for better alternatives than the usual staples (and enjoy Jazz), this is the list for you.

 

Duke Ellington arranged one of my favorite Christmas pieces in his 1960 version of the Nutcracker Suite. His masterful modernization of a holiday standard is both remarkable and refreshing.

 Duke Ellington – Three Suites (Nutcracker: Tracks 1-9)

 

Vince Guaraldi's often overlooked career as a jazz composer and musician has produced some timeless gems such as this. In the 1965 album A Charlie Brown Christmas, Guaraldi's interpretations of Christmas standards and original compositions are pure gold and remain one of my favorite holiday albums.

Vince Guaraldi Trio – A Charlie Brown Christmas

 

The Ramsey Lewis Trio came up with another gem of a Christmas Album in his 1961 album Sound of Christmas. The balanced incorporation of differing musical genres into jazz arrangements of classic Christmas songs keeps this album fresh and away from some of the cheesiness found in other holiday arrangements.

Ramsey Lewis Trio – Sound Of Christmas 

Well that's all for now, I'll be sure to keep this list going in the next few days, time permitting. I hope you enjoy these suggestions and keep checking back for more. Merry Christmas.