Justin Time for Christmas Vol 6 (Justin Time Records)
Various Artists
Released in 2019
Jazz FM 20 Contemporary Christmas Jazz Albums
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nFg5b3gAFUFeiECojlAriNoXYvxNzp2qE
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/53qydQYY1B6s08WJxKW433?si=lCk0B92MTbO_ZTkgDh0BwQ
About:
Justin Time Records returns with their 6th volume of timeless Holiday tunes – featuring 12 traditional Christmas classics, some originals and a few surprises! With the exception of Katherine Penfold’s rendition of ‘Keep Christmas With You’ (from her 2017 holiday release of the same name) all the tracks are previously unreleased. Highlights include Emma Frank’s haunting take on folk hymn ‘I Wonder As I Wander’, the Susie Arioli Swing Band featuring Jordan Officer offer up a nod to Bessie Smith with ‘At The Christmas Ball’, Barbra Lica positively sparkles with her own jazzy tune – ‘Santa Claws’ (spoiler alert – Santa is a cat!) while Ranee Lee ‘Deck’s The Halls’. Several instrumental pieces are also included – Oliver Jones inspirational rendition of ‘Bless This House’ and Matt Herskowitz’s heartfelt version of ‘White Christmas’. Justin Time For Christmas Volume 6 is a cool slice of styles that blend in seamlessly for a truly holly jolly listening experience! Originally released digitally in 2019, it will be available for the first time on CD – October 16, 2020
Track Listing:
1. Santa Claws (Barbra Lica / James Bryan McCollum) 03:34
Marc Rogers: bass
Will Fisher: drums, percussion
Tom Fleming: guitar
Joel Visentin: piano
Barbra Lica: vocals
2. At the Christmas Ball (Richard Thompson) 02:52
Susie Arioli Swing Band
Michael Jerome Browne: acoustic guitar
Solon McDade: electric upright bass
Jordan Officer: guitar
Ralph Sutton: piano
Susi Arioli: vocals, snare
3. Keep Christmas With You (David Axelrod / Sam Pottle) 04:07
Jodi Proznick: bass
Jesse Cahill: drums
Vince Mai: flugelhorn, trumpet
Joel Fountain: percussion
Tilden Webb: piano
Steve Kaldestad: saxophone
Katherine Penfold: vocals
4. I Wonder as I Wander (John Niles) 02:10
Franky Rousseau: keyboards, guitar
Pedro Barquinha: keyboards, ukulele
Emma Frank: vocals
5. O Holy Night (Adolphe Adam / Matt Herskowitz / Cappeau de Roquemaure) 05:22
Matt Herskowitz: piano
6. Christmas Time Is Here (Vince Guaraldi / Lee Mendelson) 04:07
James Suter: bass
Jim Doxas: drums
Ariel Pocock: vocals, piano
7. The Christmas Song (Mel Tormé / Robert Wells) 03:47
Marc Rogers: bass
Jimmy Branly: drums
Pierre Côté: guitar
Carol Weisman: vocals, piano
8. Bless This House (May Hannah Brahe / Helen Taylor) 02:14
Oliver Jones: piano
9. Deck the Halls (Ranee Lee / Thomas Oliphant / John Thomas) 06:16
Richard Ring: guitar
Taurey Butler: piano
Ranee Lee: vocals
10. The Christmas Waltz (Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne) 02:54
Morgan Moore: bass
Richard Irwin: drums
Andy Dacoulis: guitar
John Sadoway: piano
Angela Galuppo: vocals
11. We Three Kings (John Hopkins / Ariel Pocock) 03:33
Adrian Vedady: bass
Jim Doxas: drums
Ariel Pocock: vocals, piano
12. White Christmas (Irving Berlin) 07:01
Matt Herskowitz: piano
Producer: Dave Sikula
Review:
Part of the sixth edition of Justin Time Records’ annual Christmas compilation, this cut finds the great Oliver Jones performing a sweeping, sprawling rendition of the gospel tune Bless This House. Jones’s passion is palpable as he plays with both thundering power and exquisite grace, squeezing every last drop of beauty out of his instrument.
