Context? CDXVI

Yesterday, a radio personality said he misunderstood someone's reference to Grandpa Pidgeon's after he'd moved to St. Louis.  

Thinking this person was referring to her grandfather, he asked, "Is that a nickname?  Is he a bird?"

He didn't realize that she was referring to a discount store.  That reminded me of how quickly you can get used to a store name that sounds odd to anyone who doesn't have that store in their area.  We don't have Piggly Wiggly stores here, for example, and if they ever opened stores in St. Louis, I'd feel awfully silly calling the store by its name--at least early on.  Over time, if I heard everyone else using it, I'd likely get used to it.

Similarly, my brother mentioned Schnucks, a grocery chain here, to a former co-worker who was based in Philadelphia.  

She asked, "There's a grocery store called Schnucks?"

Yes, there is.  I've shopped at Schnucks frequently and had never thought about how strange that name must sound to outsiders--especially if you think it's spelled Schnooks.

Steering into the skid IX

A smart tactic for a vocalist singing in concert with a sore throat: Compliment the audience when it's warranted.  Erin Bode did this earlier this month.

After the audience applauded several songs into her set, Bode told us, "You're a very kind group of people.  I don't know if anyone's told you that." 

What audience member doesn't enjoy hearing that?  It's gratifying as a concertgoer to know that your appreciation is reciprocal.

Persistent earworm alert CDXII

This is one earworm I'm glad to have in mind on such a frigid, windy day.  John Denver's "Aspenglow" makes me look at Winter in the most positive light whenever I hear it.

As cold, snowy, and icy as the season is, there's an undeniably picturesque aspect to it that Denver's lyrics capture.

That's worth remembering at the moment, when it's 18 degrees and feels like 1 degree with the wind chill, per weather.com.

An overlooked cover tune CLXXXVII

For years, I've thought that Hagood Hardy's easy listening rendition of "Silent Night," which he titled "Silent Night, Holy Night," is the best one I've ever heard.  I was pleasantly surprised earlier this month when I heard his instrumental rendering of John Paul Young's 1978 hit, "Love Is In The Air," on SiriusXM's Escape channel.  I had never imagined a vibraphone carrying the melody, but it works while retaining the original version's carefree verve.

I wonder how many couples have played Hardy's version at their weddings.

An overlooked (Christmas) cover tune CLXXXVI

While trying to adjust to a post-Christmas Day reality this morning, it was a pleasure to hear Rachel Van Voorhees play "Angels We Have Heard On High" on KFUO 850 AM.  When you want to hang on to the beauty of Christmas carols after the holiday, this subtle, medium tempo harp rendition does the trick.

A murky verdict VIII

This was the expression my brother's cat, Lily, had last night as she waited for Brad Mehldau to return to the melody in his freewheeling rendition of "Silent Night:"

She was reasonably patient, as she knew that waiting for a melody after a run of improvisational flourishes is characteristic of jazz.

Online radio sampler highlights CCLXXXVII (Christmas edition)

December 24, 2003: A bright, welcoming backdrop by which to hear Christmas music.

Ear-catching Christmas selections heard this morning:

KLZR (Westcliffe, CO) 

• It Came Upon A Midnight Clear-Edward Gerhard (Tasteful acoustic guitar.  Also recommended: "Silver Bells," or really anything from Gerhard's CD, "Christmas," which has an easy-on-the-ears consistency.)
• Winter Wonderland-Wynton Marsalis (A vibrant, upbeat trumpet rendition.)

KUSC (Los Angeles, CA) 

• I'll Be Home For Christmas (Giovanni De Chiaro, guitar) (Melodic acoustic guitar with just enough embellishments.)
• Good King Wenceslas (Philadelphia Brass Ensemble) (Even if you've never heard this rendition, you probably approximate it accurately.  This carol's basic melody lends itself easily to an arrangement of trumpets, trombones, and tuba.)

KWMU-2 (St. Louis, MO) 

• What Child Is This?-Ali Ryerson (A jazz fantasia of flute and piano.)
• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen-Jim Cullum Jazz Band (Cullum leads this Dixieland-style throwback on clarinet.) 

WAPJ (Torrington, CT) 

• Light One Candle-Peter, Paul & Mary (A plea for justice and compassion that's needed now.)
• We Three Kings (Sax Winterlude Version)-WordHarmonic (Before the saxophone comes in, I half-expect Crowded House to start singing "Weather With You."  This is a decent smooth jazz interpretation.) 

WEFT (Champaign, IL) 

• White Christmas-Elizabeth Elmore (An unpretentious indie ethos in this voice-and-guitar rendition.  I could imagine playing this on KCOU.)
• Silent Night-John Denver & The Muppets (Sung in German and English, with narration from Denver on how this carol came to exist.  Denver and the Muppets wishing each other Merry Christmas is a heartwarming touch.)

WSB (Atlanta, GA)

• The First Noel-Karla Bonoff (Bonoff consistently turns out quality work as a singer-songwriter, but her Christmas and non-Christmas releases haven't always gotten the acclaim they deserve.)
• We Need A Little Christmas-The New Christy Minstrels (This is about the only version that doesn't strike me as overly precious.) 

WUCF (Orlando, FL)

• Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas-Lou Rawls (Has anyone else ever sounded this self-assured singing this?)
• O Tannenbaum-Ellis Marsalis (A stately, deliberate, and warm piano interpretation.)
• Santa Claus Is Coming To Town-Beegie Adair (Adair's stride piano rendition gives this tune an appropriate sense of fun.)

FM dial scan highlights CCXCIII (Christmas edition)

December 24, 2010: Christmas presents, including some CDs, ready to be distributed.

Christmas music highlights heard this morning and early afternoon:

WSIE 88.7 FM 

• Silent Night-Gerry T. Wiggins (This is the fastest, most upbeat & swingin' piano rendition of "Silent Night" I've ever heard.)
• The Christmas Song-Gene Ammons (Shimmering tenor sax with elegant piano backing.)
• The Christmas Waltz-The Carpenters (One of the three best sung pop versions of "The Christmas Waltz;" The Lettermen and Nancy Wilson recorded the other two.)

KCFV 89.5 FM

• Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree-The Smithereens (The Brenda Lee song, recast with rockin' guitar.  The Smithereens stay true to the melody while playing a rhythm that suggests "I Saw Her Standing There" by The Beatles will start at any moment.)

KSD 93.7 FM

• The First Noel-Carrie Underwood (This version has grown on me.  Underwood's vocals strike a reasonable midpoint between sensitivity and assertiveness.)  

KEZK 102.5 FM 

• Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!-Martina McBride (Speaking of reasonable midpoints, McBride captures the right balance of sounding cozy and inviting here, without sounding precious.  Not every singer achieves that with "Let It Snow...")

K297BI 107.3 FM, a.k.a. WFUN-HD2

• O Tannenbaum (Robert Shaw Chamber Singers) (Sung with the same reverential gravitas and enunciation I'd expect in the most solemn hymn.)
• Or Vous Tremoussez, Pasteurs De Judee (The Boston Camerata/Joel Cohen, conductor) (For a carol whose English title is "Now You Are Trembling, Shepherds Of Judea," this is surprisingly whimsical.  Rhythmically, it sounds like a prototype of "Deck The Halls."  Classic 107.3 got even further into my good graces by also playing this ensemble's "Nouvelles, Nouvelles" this morning.  While singing along in my pidgin French, I picked up my cat, Collette, and danced her around the living room.  She bit my feet multiple times after this, but I think she appreciated at least the first 15 seconds of the melody.)
• Christmas Time Is Here (Cally Banham featuring Adam Maness Trio) (I enjoyed hearing Banham carry the melody of this favorite from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" on the English horn, which gave Maness the chance to embellish the tune on the piano.  Also recommended: "Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella," which features St. Louis Symphony trombonists.)
• Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Chanticleer) (Sung with just enough resonance and delicacy.  Also recommended: "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear.")

The foot-biting default option XXX

I'm not certain that my singing prevented a foot-biting calamity Sunday, but I'd like to think so.  As my cat, Collette, opened her mouth and approached my feet, I sang in time to Cara Dillon's version of "The Wexford Carol," "Don't bite my feet.  Leave them intact!"

Collette then retreated without biting me.  Most likely, that was just a coincidence, but I'm choosing to believe it was Christmas spirit.  After all, I can't prove that Collette's conscience didn't get the better of her.

The foot-biting default option XXIX

My cat, Collette, got into the Christmas spirit Saturday by rolling around on the floor as "Winter Wonderland" by Boots Randolph with Tommy Newsom's Jazztet played.  While turning over happily, she poked my feet, trying to get me in the spirit, as well.  I obliged by moving my feet rhythmically for a few measures.  That was all the incentive Collette needed to pounce on my feet and bite them.

I knew she had an ulterior motive!  You'd think after six years, that would have been more transparent to me.

An overlooked (Christmas) cover tune CLXXXV

Sometimes, hearing a right-down-the-middle, relaxed version makes a Christmas carol easier to digest.  That's true of Cindy Bradley's take on "Do You Hear What I Hear?"  Her smooth jazz trumpet interpretation stays true to the tune's melody at a consistent midtempo pace and works equally well as background or foreground music.

An overlooked (Christmas) cover tune CLXXXIV

As much as I enjoy fast versions of "Sleigh Ride," such as those by Ramsey Lewis and John Pizzarelli, Dave McKenna's piano rendition makes a fair case for subtlety and a somewhat slower tempo.  One could argue that a brisk sleigh ride is exhilarating, but McKenna's pace allows sleigh riders to enjoy the scenery more.

Context? CDXV

This morning, a radio talk show personality asked his co-host if she'd ever seen a movie that was better than the book on which it was based.  She said she hadn't.

Society needs an informed citizenry, so it was great to hear an on-air plug for reading, at least indirectly.

SiriusXM highlights CLXIII (Christmas edition)

December 24, 2009: A Christmas tree and Christmas LPs, with a Coca-Cola polar bear and two Snoopys to guard them.  Those are essential ingredients for a positive Christmas.

Seasonal selections heard this morning:

Cool Jazz Christmas 

• White Christmas-Warren Hill (Easy-on-the-ears saxophone and piano.)
• Carol Of The Bells-Carol Albert ("Carol Of The Bells" isn't one of my favorite Yuletide tunes, but Albert's commanding piano playing, the periodic vocal punctuation, and strings make this one of the better versions I've heard.)

Country Christmas 

• I'll Be Home For Christmas-Martina McBride (McBride consistently sings country crossover renditions of carols with just the right amount of emotion.) 

Holiday Instrumentals 

• Santa Claus Is Coming To Town-Ramsey Lewis Trio (Lewis plays this on the piano at a slower tempo than it's usually performed and gives it an interesting bluesy cast.  Also recommended: "Sleigh Ride.")
• White Christmas-Booker T. & The MGs (One of the hippest renditions, thanks to the piano and organ arrangements.)

Holiday Pops

• Once In Royal David's City-St. Paul's Cathedral Choir/Andrew Carwood, director (This carol has grown on me in recent years.  In the best versions, such as this one, the verses build conspicuously in volume and intensity.)
• Still...Still...Still...-Kelly Yost (Yost plays this with an appropriately delicate touch on the piano.  Also, it's a minor plus, but props for punctuating the title as it ought to be, instead of using a comma between each Still.)
• It Came Upon A Midnight Clear-Arturo Delmoni String Quartet (A prim, proper rendering, characteristic of Delmoni & Friends renditions of carols.) 
• The Christmas Song-Isthmus Brass (This ensemble conveys the tune's warmth as effectively as any vocal or string ensemble.)

Holiday Traditions 

• Angels We Have Heard On High-Cedar Glen Orchestra/Chorus (It's easy for me to imagine a soft rock or easy listening station in 1980 playing this before or after "We Need A Little Christmas" by The New Christy Minstrels.)
• Hark! The Herald Angels Sing-Andy Williams (Surprisingly, this is one rendition I've rarely heard on the radio, possibly because it has a slightly melancholy undercurrent.)

Holidays With Anne Murray 

• It Came Upon A Midnight Clear-Anne Murray (Murray's voice is a natural fit for this carol.)

Holly

• Feliz Navidad-Kacey Musgraves (Ordinarily, I don't seek out any version of this except for Jose Feliciano's, but Musgraves and her backing singers do the tune justice, giving it an appropriate percolating energy.)
• Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!-Seal (I associate Seal with strong, serious tunes such as "Crazy" and "Prayer For The Dying," so it's out of character to hear him sound this lighthearted.)

Real Jazz Holiday 

• Sleigh Ride-Agunko (A brassy Latin instrumental rendition.)
• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen-Christian Sands (Infectious Latin jazz piano and percussion.)

Sleep Christmas

• Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas-Michael John Hall (A warm piano rendition.)

Smokey's Holiday Soul Town

• The Christmas Song-Smokey Robinson (Robinson is a natural fit vocally for this relaxed version.)
• One Little Christmas Tree-Stevie Wonder (This is one of the more underrated tracks from Wonder's "Someday At Christmas" album, sung from the perspective of a Christmas tree Charlie Brown might have chosen.  Also recommended: "A Warm Little Home On A Hill.")
• White Christmas-The Four Tops (After hearing such authoritative vocals, I expect to look out the window and see snow, even if it's not in the forecast.) 

An overlooked (Christmas) cover tune CLXXXIII

While listening to Rick Braun's version of "Deck The Halls," retitled "Deck Those Halls," my brother exclaimed, "Paul Shaffer and The World's Most Dangerous Band!"  He's right that the arrangement of Braun's 2024 release brings to mind the "Late Night (and Late Show) With David Letterman" themes.

I also think that Braun's catchy big band-style instrumental sounds like the band Chicago, with the horn section displayed prominently.

In both cases, the tune swings.

Context? CDXIV

After an NPR station announcer's "Coming up in 20 minutes..." programming plug this morning, another announcer chimed in with, "What's not coming up in 20 minutes is the sunrise.  That happened seven minutes ago..."

I wonder if the announcer was covering the bases in case he hadn't said during a previous break, "The sun will rise today at (such-and-such time.)"  Perhaps he was stretching to fill time with local content.

Either way, it was an unusual segue.

(Christmas) Segue suggestion IX

I wonder if any radio station or stream has ever played Floyd Cramer's version of "I'll Be Home For Christmas," followed by The London Sound 70 Orchestra's rendition of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas."  The similar easy listening piano-and-strings arrangements of both tracks makes them dovetail seamlessly.

An overlooked (Christmas) cover tune CLXXXII

This is how you lay down a beat and make a Christmas carol hip without disrespecting its melody.  Gregg Karukas performs "Greensleeves" on the piano, making it jazzy, with just enough of a hip-hop bounce in its step.  It's close to how Incognito or Soulive might have covered it, which I consider a plus.  Hearing "What Child Is This?" in this new light last night reminded me that I should revisit some of the Karukas tunes we used to play on KNJZ.

Steering into the skid VIII

Respect to Erin Bode at last night's Kirkwood Performing Arts Center concert for maintaining a "show must go on" attitude and pulling off an impressive performance, despite battling a sore throat.  She told the audience that she might sound like Eartha Kitt, but to my ears, she was in excellent voice, particularly on "Count Your Blessings," "Silent Night," "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," and the show-closing "White Christmas," in which the audience took her up on her invitation to sing along.

Bode admitted she was particularly concerned how Joni Mitchell's "River" might turn out, noting that it's difficult to sing even when you feel well.  She nailed the vocals, though, and at "River"'s conclusion, told the crowd, "Now, I can relax."  She also conquered the octave leap in "Little Road To Bethlehem"'s lyric, "Your star of gold, your star of gold is shining in the sky."  During her cover of "Winter Weather," we applauded her in mid-song after her extended whistling solo.

I left the venue satisfied and appreciative that she'd sung three of my favorite carols, "Little Road...," "The Holly And The Ivy," and "The Star's Song," as well as many other Yuletide tunes, with moving accompaniment from guitarist Steve Schenkel and cellist Tara Santiago Anello; Santiago Anello, incidentally, received two well-deserved mid-song applause breaks for her melodic solos. 

Kudos to all three artists for a warm, enjoyable Christmas concert and to Bode for persevering under less than ideal conditions.

Favorite music of 2025

While ranking my favorite songs of 2016 and 2018, I marveled at what a bumper crop of well-crafted tunes had been released and considered expanding my countdown to 30 or more songs.  2025, in contrast, is not that type of year.  However, every year has its share of compelling music, so here are my rankings for this year--subject to change five minutes from now:

25.  Spine Oil-Samia (This rhythmically appealing April release's forthright lyrics show that the protagonist is more strong-willed than people realize.)

24.  Nothing I Need-Lord Huron (This March release's roots rock underscoring punctuates honest admissions about not being able to pinpoint exactly what you want out of life.)

23.  Riders Of The Moon-Arc De Soleil (The guitar underscoring the vocals reminds me of early '70s, Bob Welch-era Fleetwood Mac.)

22.  Better Broken-Sarah McLachlan (Sound lyrics about the pain and wisdom that come from making mistakes.)

21.  B61-The Westerlies (I never expected to hear Aoife O'Donovan's thoughtfully written song about isolation transformed into a brassy jazz instrumental, but it translates more successfully than I would have expected.)

20.  Boom-Sierra Hull (Vocally and instrumentally, this is a different style than I'm used to hearing from Hull.  It's successful, in part because rhythmically, the melody reminds me of Nilsson's "Coconut.")

19.  Hymn-Nicholas Krolak (Krolak sustains a catchy bass riff for over nine minutes while the trumpeter and guitarist take off on flights of fancy.)

18.  Ventura Highway-Dw3 featuring Peter White (Vocally and instrumentally, the group nails the essence of America's most pleasant hit.  By slowing down the tempo just a tad, emphasizing White's guitar playing, and giving the tune some smooth jazz and R&B gloss, this ensemble puts its own spin on the song without compromising the original version's appeal.)

17.  Metal-The Beths (Dry scientific facts, made bouncy and palatable.  They Might Be Giants isn't the only group capable of such a feat.)

16.  Hummingbird Highway-Dar Williams (This lyrically thought-provoking track makes the listener realize that when we're kids, we don't always understand or appreciate the long hours and dedication that having a job, especially one that requires being away from one's family for long stretches, requires.) 

15.  Moonlight In Vermont-Cyrus Chestnut (Chestnut plays a subtle, classy, unhurried rendition on the piano, and it's one of many standout tracks on his "Rhythm, Melody, And Harmony" release.  Also recommended: "Autumn Leaves.")

14.  UtopiaNoah-Nathan East & Noah East (Sublime jazz piano and bass.)

13.  Kwiczoly-Klawo (Appealingly spacey keyboard.)

12.  Energy-Josh Meader, Matthew Thomson & Alex Hirlian (A cool, dramatic, news bulletin-style melody.)

11.  Cherry Tree-Lera Lynn (This type of acoustic guitar accompaniment flatters Lynn's alto voice well, and this May release has refreshingly candid lyrics questioning whether one has made the right choices in life.  It's a good reminder to seize the day before too much time passes.)

10.  Feeling-Billie Marten (This is one of 2025's low-key charmers, with its lo-fi vocals and acoustic instrumentation.  Also recommended: "Planets.") 

  9.  Anywhere-Ratboys (Upbeat indie rock with power pop sensibilities, released in advance of the band's 2026 album, "Singin' To An Empty Chair."  Julia Steiner's voice captures the zeal of someone who wasn't ready to pursue someone but is all in now.  The lyrics don't break new ground, but the energy level is captivating, and the tune has a strong hook, so it would feel wrong not to place it in the top 10.) 

  8.  Money Hits-Daughter Of Swords (A catchy, chirpy way of imagining how life will get easier when your ship comes in.)

  7.  Van Nuys-Dan Wilson (A brief, thoughtful new age piano piece fit for a farewell.  The last chord reverberates effectively, letting the farewell vibe linger.  This is one of the subtler compositions in this year's rankings, and it deserves credit for bringing aspects of Beethoven's sonatas to mind.)

  6.  Dinorah Dinorah-Butcher Brown (Released in March, this is a strong rendition of an Ivan Lins tune. George Benson covered it previously in a slightly faster tempo.  Brown's version retains the essence of the tune's Brazilian flavor while modernizing it.)

  5.  Long Pond Lily-Hayden Pedigo (One of this year's most pleasant guitar melodies.  When the tempo picks up, it reminds me of one of my favorite guitar pieces, Ken Bonfield's "From A Friend.") 

  4.  Pups-Lemon City Trio (Forthright trumpet over a Pat Metheny-style backdrop.) 

  3.  Ancient Light-I'm With Her (Compelling vocal harmonies, as usual, from Sarah Jarosz, Sara Watkins, and Aoife O'Donovan.  Lyrically, this is a nice reminder that while you may think your problems are unique, they're typically universal, and previous generations have weathered comparable storms.)

  2.  Slice, Diced, And Fried Twice-The Lewis Express featuring Chip Wickham (If I hadn't known otherwise, I would have sworn this was a Herbie Mann recording from the '60s or early '70s.  The piano and flute carry "Slice, Diced, And Fried Twice," in a melody that sounds to me like "Pata Pata" mingling with "One Mint Julep.")

  1  Ifyoucall-Parcels (This track, released in September, sports one of 2025's catchiest rhythms, a strong guitar hook, solid vocals, and a '70s dance influence.  The vocals and instrumentation pull off the tricky-to-navigate task of sounding contemporary yet old school.  Lyrically, this is as sound a way as any to remind someone, "I'm the cavalry.")

So, that's how things panned out in 2025.  Here's hoping my favorite tunes next year aren't so arduous for me to rank.

Annual Christmas cheer revisited IV

This afternoon, I congratulated the carolers who sang a verse of "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" to me over the phone.  I was sincere when telling them, "It takes courage and confidence to sing to people, so credit to you for doing a good job."  I've been making annual calls to a Dial-A-Carol service since 2013, and regardless of the vocalists' abilities, I'm always impressed that they're willing to put themselves out there.

Persistent (Christmas) earworm alert CDXI

I was drifting off to sleep Monday when The Bach Society Of Saint Louis began singing "Snow Lay On The Ground."  Despite my drowsiness, I fought the urge to leap up and start marching around the room.  The tune's rhythm, not unlike "Masters In This Hall," practically requires such allegiance.

A function of age XLII

A host of "The Not Ready For Prime Time Project" podcast struck a nerve with me this morning--but I can't refute his point.  While discussing a "Saturday Night Live" sketch in which Harry Shearer played the announcer at a radio station whose entire format was just telling listeners the current time, the podcaster remarked, "Remember when radio was a thing?"

I wanted to respond, "Radio is just as relevant today," even though I know that's not entirely true.  I still think the sketch's premise of an all-time radio station is clever, but I agree with the podcasters that it wouldn't play as well today. 

Still, the sketch aired originally in 1980, which was just--um, actually, quite a while ago.

Persistent (Christmas) earworm alert CDX

Today's earworm doesn't teem with hidden meanings.  The main idea of Peggy Lee's "Ring Those Christmas Bells" is right there on the surface.  Lyrically, it boils down to, "I like to hear bells during the Christmas season."  That's it...

...And, sometimes, that's enough.  Christmas is a season for joy, after all, and nothing says the joy must be laced with subtle nuance.

"Wishing you a dispirited Christmas..."

I enjoyed working at smooth jazz/soft vocals station KNJZ in the '90s, but one small regret is that I hardly got to play any Christmas music on the air.  Seasonal music was mixed into the playlist on all shifts except overnights.  One weekend in 1994, I got to work a slightly later shift, but even then, the only Christmas tune I got to play was Sting's version of "Gabriel's Message."

As much as I wanted to wish everyone Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, I couldn't really do that.  A carol as solemn and downcast as "Gabriel's Message" demands a subtle introduction and back announcing.  A manic announcement of "Season's Greetings!!!!" is out of place before or after it.

Impeccable timing

Yesterday, I heard an unexpected response while listening to Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band and Take 6 perform "Do You Hear What I Hear?"  After Take 6 sang that question rapidly, I heard a perfectly timed "Woof!" from across the hall.  I'm still not sure which dog it was, but it was great to know that (s)he had heard what the musicians heard and answered the carol's question right on the beat.

A little later, my cat, Collette, started washing her face in time to Stevan Pasero's guitar rendition of "Ave Maria."  It was heartening to see Collette put her innate sense of rhythm to good use.

Then, while listening to Metamora's version of "This Rush Of Wings," a dove flew into my condo, cooing that 2026 will be a better year than I'm anticipating.

Admittedly, that last incident didn't happen.  Nevertheless, I'm still holding out hope.  Until the dove arrives, though, I take heart in knowing that pets in my building have the Christmas spirit.

An overlooked (Christmas) cover tune CLXXXI

Last week, I heard an especially pleasant version of "Deck The Halls."  Guitarist Chris Standring gives the melody a laid-back gloss while the keyboard undercurrent adds to the tune's warmth.  It's an ideal way to pull off a smooth jazz cover of such a well-worn Christmas favorite.

Context? CDXIII

I agreed with KTRS's John Carney yesterday that it looks odd when people put Christmas decorations on their lawn without taking down their everyday non-Christmas decorations.  As he put it, when people do that, they end up with "pink flamingos next to the manger."

It's even stranger, I think, when people combine aspects of Christmas that don't go together.  One year in the '80s, some former neighbors toyed with the Nativity scene by putting Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in an igloo, placing penguins nearby, and a sign that read, "Christmas At The North Pole."

Fortunately, the neighbors must have concluded or someone must have told them that was a misfire.  The following Christmas, they went back to a more traditional Nativity setting. 

Home for Christmas, gladly

Earlier this week, I thought, "I wish I could freeze frame this moment.  My cat, Collette, is kneading her paws on me with her usual thorough determination while The Hollyridge Strings play 'I'll Be Home For Christmas.'"

Home is a great place to be for Christmas when your cat kneads you as you listen to warm, seasonal music.  Collette's penchant for kneading is one of her best qualities--and one of the reasons I'm glad I adopted her on December 3, 2019.

A function of age XLI

This shouldn't have surprised me, as I've had decades to piece it together.  Still, I was gobsmacked when I looked it up recently and learned that Bobby Helms was only 22 when "Jingle Bell Rock" hit the charts in 1957.  I first heard "Jingle Bell Rock" when I was in grade school, and Helms sounded at least 40 to me then.  

Listening to "Jingle Bell Rock" now, I still think he still sounds at least 40.  His voice still doesn't sound that youthful to me--and that's not a criticism.  It's all the more impressive, I think, if you sound mature beyond your years and can pull off a Christmas tune intended mainly for kids.

An overlooked (Christmas) cover tune CLXXX

Want to look like the hippest person on your block while putting up Christmas decorations?  Use Christian McBride's version of "Deck The Halls" as your soundtrack.

Leave it to a jazz bassist to enhance your cool factor, even when it's already in the stratosphere.