Christmas music highlights from the FM dial, heard yesterday and early this morning:
KDHX 88.1 FM
- Someday At Christmas-Stevie Wonder (Given some of this year's bad news, the lyrics, unfortunately, are just as timely as they were originally.)
- Skating-Vince Guaraldi Trio (In addition to its famous inclusion in "A Charlie Brown Christmas," Snoopy uses "Skating" as a beautiful diversion in the movie, "A Boy Named Charlie Brown." If that scene and this song don't make you forget your woes for a few minutes, I wonder what would.)
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas-She & Him (Zooey Deschanel conveys the intimacy of this carol effectively, conjuring up the image of performing in a darkened auditorium.)
- The Christmas Song-The Ray Brown Trio with Kevin Mahogany and Russell Malone (A cool, classy lounge rendition.)
- Snowfall-John Pizzarelli ("Snowfall" fits Pizzarelli's vocal range easily. Listeners who enjoy Harry Connick, Jr.'s arrangements will likely enjoy this. Pizzarelli's "Let's Share Christmas" CD also contains a great, brisk instrumental romp through "Sleigh Ride.")
- I'll Be Home For Christmas-Gene Harris (A jazzy, bluesy arrangement, perfect for the piano.)
- I'll Be Home For Christmas-Linda Ronstadt (A naturally beautiful voice with strings; that's ideal for Christmas.)
- Good King Wenceslas-Cincinnati Sinfonietta, Keith Lockhart & Mel Torme (That groovy cat, Wenceslas...He offers sustenance and kind words to those who need them, while accompanied by a walking bass line wherever he goes. Not just any hipster has that kind of backup.)
- John Rutter: Donkey Carol (John Rutter: Choir Of Clare College, Cambridge) (One of my frequently played favorites from KFUO's "A Classic Christmas." The lyrics give the donkey its due for transporting Mary and Joseph to the stable.)
