This CD has ten performances of Christmas songs from 1990 plus a few earlier recordings (
Chet Baker
's
"Winter Wonderland,"
Count Basie
's "Jingle Bells,"
Dexter Gordon
's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and
Stanley Jordan
's 1986 version of "Silent Night." With such top stars as
Bobby Watson
,
Lou Rawls
Eliane Elias
Benny Green
(who has two piano solos),
Dianne Reeves
John Hart
John Scofield
Joey Calderazzo
and
Rick Margitza
playing music not available elsewhere, this melodic CD is worth picking up. A particular highlight are two versions of "A Merrier Christmas," a previously unknown
Thelonious Monk
composition here performed separately by
. ~ Scott Yanow