Podcast 864: New Christmas Jazz 2021

Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show

Every year right after the Thanksgiving holiday here in the US, I post a podcast that serves as sort of a consumer guide to new jazz releases featuring Christmas music. I mean, really - how is the jazz fan to know what is fresh and new out there to listen to as they do there shopping, decorating and general making merry?

Here are thirteen tracks from new release, ranging from artists well known to the general public (Norah Jones) to those well known to jazz cognescente (Robert Irving III, Jeff Hamilton, Rodney Whitaker) to those whose music is not as widely played, but is worthy of a good long listen.

So enjoy, and follow the links to the artist or album titles to learn more about each release, and order a copy or two to supplement your holiday music collection. Podcast 864 includes:

Norah Jones – “Christmas Time is Here” from I Dream of Christmas

Robert Irving III (feat. Marlene Robsenberg & Ernie Adams) - "We Three Kings" from New Momentum

Rodney Whitaker with the Christ Church Cranbrook Choir – “Little Drummer Boy” from Cranbrook Christmas Jazz

Carolyn Lee Jones – “I’d Like You for Christmas” from Christmas Time is Here

Kirk Whalum – “Angels We Have Heard on High” from How Does Christmas Sound?

June Bisantz – “Hang Them On the Tree” from 7 Shades of Snow

Jeff Hamilton Trio – “Here Comes Santa Claus” from Warm and Bright

Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet – “Santa Dear, Where’s Mine?” from Fools for Yule

Pete Ellman Big Band – Title Track from The Twelve Grooves of Christmas

Lyn Stanley Big Band - "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus" from Dancing in the Holidays

Tanya Wills Quartet - Title Track from Do You Hear What I Hear?

As Is - "O Holy Night"

Jan Daley – “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” from Home for Christmas