2 of the many new holiday discs include these charmers for easy listening crowd
Nov. 24—MERRY & BRIGHT
Jeff Hamilton Trio. Capri Records.
SEASON'S SWINGIN' GREETINGS: DELUXE EDITION
Benny Benack III with the Steven Feifke Big Band. Cellar Music Group.
Time for some Christmas music.
We all have stories about some holiday discs that are funky, clever, bold, weird, ambitious, funny, outrageous, or somehow push the envelope in other ways.
Some of my favorites over the years run the gamut from discs recorded by Bootsy Collins, Kermit Ruffins, and Leon Redbone to Elvis Presley, and Ella Fitzgerald.
That's not what I'm talking about with these two that came upon my desk recently, though.
They don't try to out-compete or set the bar higher (or lower, depending on your point of view) with zany takes on classics.
They're both for the easy listening crowd.
And while there are some jazzy influences, neither are about showboating.
The Jeff Hamilton Trio offers some fresh interpretations of familiar songs, such as "It's the Holiday Season," "Caroling, Caroling," "The Little Drummer Boy," "Here Comes Santa Claus," "Santa Baby," "O Tannenbaum," and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
The Benny Benack III-Steven Feifke collaboration begins with the charming "My Girlfriend is An Elf," and continues on with "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and other songs, including some original matter. And, of course, it's in a big band format instead of as a trio.
They're both light, fun, and — no — they aren't lame.
But they aren't silly, either.
They give the easy listening crowd a chance to expand its horizons, something which doesn't always happen during high-pressure holiday seasons of the past 20 years.
