Christmas '64 - The Incredible Jimmy Smith

This is the first and only Christmas album released by Jimmy Smith. I kind of decided to review this album because the first time I did this I decided to do a Jimmy McGriff album, oh whom I'd mix up with Jimmy Smith. To be fair they both play the same instrument and genre of music, so not that much of a stretch. I also find it fitting to do this because Rudy van Gelder was the recording engineer on this, and he passed away earlier this year. So while not a proper tribute, it'll hopefully be a fair one to review with his name in the credits. I also want to point out there are some people whom I recognize, like Kenny Burrell, Al Cohn, Art Davis and Billy Hart along with a number of people whom I don't recognize, but have played on records I want to or have heard.

1. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: I really dig the rendition of this track. I mean I do enjoy this song. This is a track that seems to be a quintet (organ/guitar/bass/drums) with a horn section (4 trumpets/1 flugel horn/2 trombones/2 bass trombones/4 french horns/1 tuba) and a percussionist and a harpist. The timpani in the beginning sets the song for a large feeling. Almost the same way Thus Spoke does. The track is a bit odd, and I think would take a few listens to get my first time through. But I do like what I'm hearing, it just might seem a bit over blown. Like there is a very big band feeling to this track. The unfortunate thing though, is I knew how I felt about this arrangement by the ending of the album.
2. Jingle Bells: Ah we meet again for round number four. This time though, it's only a trio. With Quentin Warren on guitar and Billy Hart on drums. This is much different than the last track and feels much less. Not in a bad way, but less going one. I actually prefer this to that last track. I don't think that was arranged as well as this. This feels nice and is quite enjoyable to be honest, but when it switches orchestra it just doesn't work for me. Like I have no interest.
3. We Three Kings of Orient Are: Another Christmas song I dig and don't wanna kill myself during. There are moments I like in this big band sort of arrangement, but I'm not completely sold. I think it works a bit better than the opener. I mean I don't think it's really anything that mind blowing, but it's well enough. I do like the organ though, and the band without the orchestra is by far the highlight, but I don't know, I think the 
4. The Christmas Song: Fuck this song, I think it's so stupid it's called this. Chestnuts really, fuck you. I do like how it feels a bit darker, but I mean this arrangement should have a singer. I mean again, nice organ playing, but I don't want to only enjoy the band. Honestly again, the group works so much better than the orchestra. I like the drums a lot, but I think it blows it once the orchestra comes to the forefront.
5. White Christmas: This is a decent version of the song. And I do have to say this is nice, I like how the other instruments are in the background. They are accompanying, not in the forefront.
6. Santa Claus is Coming to Town: This is a cover of a song later covered by Bruce Springsteen. Useless fact of the day. This is a trio version, and it's nice. Finally a track that doesn't feel overblown. This is actually a solid track that I can jive with, I probably won't revisit it, but I do dig it. The guitar sounds good at the ending and I like the fade. This is what I want the album to be like.
7. Silent Night: I did like the version on Jackie's album. And this is the orchestra again, it's almost like they got him to guest appear on his own album [Jimmy]. I do like the song though, once the pesty orchestra gets out of the way. Keep it that way, because this is a great version of the song. The ending works too.
8. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: This is a trio track, and is probably the reason it's on the album twice. Once orchestra, one trio and works as a book ending. After the rest of the album, I was looking forward to this. I am very glad to say, this track works quite well. Though it makes me want to do a re arrangement of the first track. Honestly, this track is great. It's not perfect, but the album would have been far better if it was in this vein for most every track.

Overall I have to give this album a 4/10. This was an okay album, while I've come to expect nothing more than a 4 or 5 out of a christmas album, you never know. The album would be a solid 5 or 6 if they'd have stuck with the trio or orchestral accompaniment, not fore front. It's not the worst thing I've heard, just a lot of moments that ruin songs for me or ruin them in the context of enjoyment and a higher score.

Christmas with McGriff

This was actually originally the other release I planned on doing this Christmas. There are some covers and some originals here. At one point I planned to only do albums with originals, but I figured the chances of finding Christmas albums of all  originals is next to..... It's unrealistic. I just was lucky to stumble into that James Brown record. So I went with this, look at that cover.... I know I'd buy that in 1964.

1. White Christmas: This was the opening track to the last album I reviewed...... What a coincidence. Well, to be completely honest I doubt you can hear this on just about every Christmas track. To be completely honest, I kind of like this organ, sax, guitar drums and bass. It doesn't specify if it's a Quintet but I like the set up. This has promise, and it probably my favorite version of this song I've heard.
2. Christmas With McGriff: This is an original, and I think it sounds pretty good. I mean not to the point that I'd revisit it not around Christmas, but still. I think it's a pretty decent track. I think the star is the organ, but that's probably almost always may answer. I do have a very soft spot for theses Hammond organs (?, I assume it's one). This track isn't anything that blows me away, but it's a nice change of pace from the last review.
3. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus: A song I normally dislike, here turned into a song that I think isn't terrible. I mean it doesn't have that cutesy feeling that irritates me. But on the other hand, I don't like the organs sound on this so much. I wish it was played on maybe guitar. And this is basically just a vamp with the organ playing the lead melody. While I probably shouldn't expect people to not do that, I wish it wasn't just that you know. Though I think it might drag on a bit to long. But lots of songs here may over stay their welcome.
4. Hip Santa: This feels pretty fun, I mean it's not amazing, but it feels fun to hear them play. I feel like this was fun while they were recording it. I do enjoy the drumming here, but really I kind of forgot what was happening after spacing out for a second.
5. Winter Wonderland: Of all the songs here this might be the least interesting. I'm sorry to say, but at this point I really can't say that the album is that interesting. I mean it'd be a much better EP. This kind of feels like it's the old "rich people play jazz as background music" stereotype.
6. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town: This is two of three songs that also appeared on Christmas Songs by Sinatra, my previous review. Not this version, but song. This is very faithful to the sound of the rest of the album in it's rendition of this Christmas Classic.
7. Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer: Another song I don't care for, turned into another version that is just another track on this album. I can't really report anything of note.
8. Jingle Bells: This is the last song to be featured on the Sinatra album I just did. Lets see if this version of the song is better than Ole Blue Eye's take. To be honest, I like the swing of this track. I mean it isn't perfect or anything, but much more fun than a standard vocal jazz verison, or really any other version I've heard.

Overall I have to give this album a 5/10. Don't worry I still got at least one more review for this month. Hopefully it'll have Auld Lang Syne or Ave Maria. Either that or be if all original songs. But this is exactly what you'd expect from a jazz organ player. I like this record, but I can't really say anything more that just like. You have no idea how bad I want to review Blowfly's Christmas Party (the single). I could do his Christmas record, but I don't really care much for it..... Maybe next year. Here's a little Christmas gift to you, since I need a lot more time to review these albums I'll just mention some Jazz records to listen to New Grass by Albert Aylers, Pakistani Pomade by Alexander von Schlippenbach Trio, Pre-Bird by Charles Mingus, Out to Lunch by Eric Dolphy, Sextant by Herbie Hancock and one more review to do this year, unless I change my mind.