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Artist:
Harry Jr. Connick
New Orleans pianist, singer, and songwriter Harry Connick Jr. has done what many makers of Christmas records strive for but seldom achieve: he's made a Christmas record that sounds convincingly like a 1940s period piece and rigorously like a cool, contemporary jazz disc. His powerful, self-written Christmas songs sound like polished standards, and he delivers the whole package with a sassy, vocal economy (with the occasional New Orleans accent) and an orchestral richness that is never indulgent or overwhelming. When My Heart Finds Christmas is a true classic that no lover of big-band jazz and singing (in the Sinatra style)--and Christmas music--should be without. T...
 Easy listening jazzy Christmas album, 2009-09-08
Although the musicians on this album are credited as a big band, most of the tracks here are ballads, while even the upbeat songs here are generally taken at a slower pace than you'll often hear elsewhere. Even so, this is a high quality album that is ideal for playing during those quieter periods during the festive holidays.
Harry wrote four songs here (When my heart finds Christmas, It must've been ol' Santa Claus, The blessed dawn of Christmas Day, I pray on Christmas) while two others (Parade of the wooden soldiers, Christmas dreaming) don't appear very often on Christmas albums. Of course, Parade of the wooden soldiers appears on the famous Phil Spector Christmas album, but my substantial collection of Christmas music only contains one other version, which is by the Andrews sisters but in a boxed set of their music, not a Christmas collection.
The remaining songs (Sleigh ride, Let it snow let it snow let it snow, Little drummer boy, Ave Maria, What child is this, Rudolph the red nosed reindeer, O holy night, What are you doing New Year's Eve) are all well known and appear on plenty of Christmas albums, some more frequently than others.
For those who, like me, enjoy easy-listening jazz-pop music, this is a wonderful Christmas album that will give much pleasure during the festive season.
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List Price: £6.99
Our Price: £2.53
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Staring:
Crosby & Kate Smith
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Artist:
Stan Reynolds,
Laurie Johnson Orchestra
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List Price: £4.99
Our Price: £8.70
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Artist:
Bing Crosby
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List Price: £6.99
Our Price: £5.59
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 Music for the Monsters - Scary Music, 2004-03-09
There's always a need for "monster music" compilation, especially when the tracks are compiled from the greatest horror fantasy movies ever made. In the nutshell, that's the rise and fall of this CD.There are included some of the most famous horror themes like Tubular Bells from the Exorcist, the unforgettable Ghostbusters theme, and so on. But on the other hand - or should I say "on the Other Side" - there are themes from notoriously poor flicks as well. The movies like The attack of the Killer Tomatoes and The Haunting shouldn't even be mentioned amongst the classic motion pictures. And where are the classic themes from movies like Halloween and Friday the 13th? They should be definitely included instead of B-class scores. As such this compilation is far too scattered to work properly. Still, this CD has its uses. If you're a fan of Danny Elfman's music (like me) and you don't want to buy the whole soundtracks, this compilation will serve you well.
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List Price: £7.99
Our Price: £6.99
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Artist:
Rob McConnell
A wonderfull christmas album, with excellent musicianship, 2001-10-19
This Album is superb. It just oozes christmas spirit all the way. You hear the traditional christmas carols joined together with the best brass ensemble in the world and you have one of the finest jazz albums ever made. A true gem for all.
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List Price: £15.99
Our Price: £4.43
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Artist:
Various Artists
Catchy for Christmas, 2008-02-08
This is a very jaunty CD with a mix of some great Christmas party songs such as Jingle Bell Rock by Randy Travis and some more touching ones like O Holy Night by Tevin Campbell. They are performed by artists that you wouldn't necessarily expect to hear singing them and in some instances are all the better for that.
Standouts on this album for me include Christmas All Over Again by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers as well as Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree by Ronnie Spector and Darlene Love
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List Price: £15.99
Our Price: £3.87
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Artist:
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas, 2003-12-03
Boy, does this CD, (originally released back in 1961 in its record album form), really bring back my childhood memories of that period of time.As "Baby-Boomers", we all grew up listening to classic entertainers, i.e., Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Andy Williams, Tony Bennett, Jack Jones, etc., Ms. Fitzgerald is so memorable, her orchestrations also reflect that early "sixties" period of jazz and melodies so recognizable of that time. She truly was and will always be a classic entertainer. Ella Fitzgerald epitomizes the finest qualities of a Jazz Singer.
She knows and sings with such force and liveliness in this Christmas CD that I'm propelled back to a simpler time of life. It should be stated that Ms. Fitzgerald had previously recorded earlier and later Christmas CD's (Albums), but, this particular one just stands out for me. Some of my favorites are "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"; "Jingle Bells"; "Sleigh Ride; "Frosty the Snowman";"Let-It-Snow-Let-It-Snow-Let-It-Snow". So, if you want to sample a 'bit-of-the-past', then, don't hesitate, buy this CD. If you like Ella Fitzgerald's style of Jazz, you'll enjoy this particular CD (album).
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List Price: £12.99
Our Price: £9.95
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Artist:
Mark LaMarr
Bit of a let down, 2008-12-30
I've collected quite a few alternative Christmas albums over the years in order to tune out the schmaltz and rubbish that assaults my eardrums in the shops and on the telly.
The write-up for this album sounded interesting and I wasn't put off by the fact that a couple of the tracks were on the Viper collections I already own. In fact, this made the album sound more promising.
Unfortunately these tracks are missing a certain sparkle and suffer from a lack of humour, sass and novelty. Overall the collection felt a bit lifeless and downbeat. There are better collections out there, in particular I'm Gonna Lasso Santa Claus and Papa Ain't No Santa Claus.
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List Price: £6.99
Our Price: £15.95
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Artist:
George Shearing
George Shearing's quintet work is instantly recognisable. His use of guitar (Reg Schwager) and vibes (Don Thompson) closely following the gently swinging lead of his piano work has become a signature. On Christmas With the George Shearing Quintet, the group (completed by the bass of Neil Swainson and the drums of Dennis Mackrel) slip effortlessly over the likes of "White Christmas", "Winter Wonderland" and "Let It Snow" with a breezy, light touch. This is an entirely enjoyable release and perfect party music. With a fantastic recorded sound and tasteful solos that extend into more heady waters, it's also a pleasure for the serious jazz fan. --S Duda
Perfect Christmas Jazz, 2010-01-06
Christmas albums are tricky things. A lot of them are just thrown out to make a quick buck in the Christmas market.
This, however, is a beautiful piece of work. Some novel instrumentations, but without a feeling of this being a 'novelty' record in the slightest. Shearing's cross of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen with Brubeck's Take Five is a particular stroke of genius on a very strong album.
Well worth your pre-Christmas money.
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List Price: £14.99
Our Price: £7.69
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![Christmas With Crosby & Kate [DVD] [2004] [US Import]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TSJV3WYZL._SL160_.jpg "Christmas With Crosby & Kate [DVD] [2004] [US Import]")
