The album opens with "Over The River And Through The Wood," a traditional number associated with Thanksgiving, not Christmas. But, hey, Thanksgiving is what kicks off this whole end-of-the-year bash, right? And the music here feels like a party, the kind of music to energize us, to give us that cheerful sense that everyone expects of us at this time of year. Dennis Lichtman's work on clarinet is an important part of the whole vibe, as is that delightful lead by Jason Prover on trumpet. This is a wonderful way to kick off the album, and to kick off the holidays. That's followed by the album's title track, "Underneath The Mistletoe," an original piece by Glenn Crytzer, and the first of the album's tracks to feature vocals. "I'm just sitting here and waiting/Underneath the mistletoe/Just anticipating/I ain't got no place to go/I don't want to miss/The chance to taste a kiss/From your sweet lips." That's Hannah Gill, who just released her own holiday album, Spooky Jazz Vol. 3 (in that case, the holiday is Halloween). And though this is an original number, it has a great, old-time sound, both in the music and the vocal performance. I love the playfulness of this song, heard in the delivery of lines like "And I want to be totally certain/This will lead to a fraternization/So I'm counting on this mistletoe to facillitate" and "Gosh it's awfully rude to make me wait/Can't you hurry up, it's getting late." This track is a total delight. With this music playing, our holidays are all but guaranteed to be wonderful.
"I'm Sorry, Santa Claus" is another original number, this one also featuring vocal work, this time by Dandy Wellington. This song swings, and we get a great instrumental introduction before the first verse is sung. The lyrics, as you've likely deduced, are addressed to Santa Claus, and we soon learn the reason for the apology: "It was late last Christmas Eve/I was so tired I fell asleep/'Til I heard your awful shout/Because I forgot to put the fire in the fireplace out." Yes, it's another fun, playful song, just the sort of thing we are in desperate need of in these twisted times. Rob Edwards delivers some really nice work on trombone, and Dandy Wellington gives us a delicious, engaging vocal performance. Then we get "Deck The Halls." Sure, it's more traditional holiday fare, but this band puts its own delightful spin and energy into it. And what makes it even better is that it's an instrumental rendition. That is often the best way to go with those older holiday songs, because the lyrics are rather weak. I love what this band does with this song, and this track features particularly good leads by Mike Davis on trumpet and by Bryan Reeder piano. It certainly makes me want to deck the halls or whatever little space I have.
Watching It's A Wonderful Life has become a holiday tradition. As noted in this album's liner notes, the movie was not a hit when it was first released, but it's a really good film and it deserves a song. Glenn Crytzer provides that song here, and provides the vocals on it. "Let us celebrate Christmas together/Friendship is our greatest treasure/In this wonderful life." Indeed. The song is a waltz, which gives it that dreamy bit of magic that is so fitting. "When you feel like hope is lost/And your world is coming to an end/Just remember this piece of advice/No man is a failure who has friends." Another of the holiday traditions is to enjoy, in some form, The Nutcracker, and here The Glenn Crytzer Orchestra gives us a delightful rendition of "Tea (Chinese Dance)," taking us to the swinging nights of the speakeasy and the flapper. What better way to enjoy it? This track features some wonderful work on piano.
"An Old Fashioned Christmas" is an original number, a new song with a classic sound. The vocals come in after about a minute: "Christmas today has lost its meaning/I long for Christmas time of yore/For what would old Granddad say/If he could see the way/We spend all season long just wandering through department stores?" With opening lines like those, you might think this was in danger of becoming a serious song. But never fear, for this song is about getting together for a drink or two or more, its main line being the playful "Oh, I'll take an old fashioned Christmas with an Old Fashioned in my hand." That's the kind of holiday I want. And this track features some nice work by Mike Davis on trumpet, and by Ricky Alexander on alto saxophone. That's followed by "Playing Santa Claus," a fun, original song about handing out gifts on Christmas morning. I like how on this track, and most of them, the music plays for a minute or so before the vocals come in, establishing a vibe. And the wonderful Hannah Gill is on vocals. "'Cause I love giving gifts, checking names off of my list/I love playing Santa Claus." Dennis Lichtman delivers some delightful stuff on clarinet.
Glenn Crytzer is based in New York, and he gives us an original song titled "Christmas In New York," about how great the holiday is in that city. He is on vocals for this one, and he certainly makes New York sound perfect. "I'd hate to choose a favorite, but if you must insist/I'll take you to the little town that tops my Christmas list/This year let's spend Christmas in Manhattan." The Glenn Crytzer Orchestra then offers a magical waltz from Babes In Toyland, "Toyland," an instrumental rendition featuring some nice work by Glenn Crytzer on banjo, as well as a good lead by Mike Davis on trumpet. They take another classic holiday number, "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas," and give it their own special treatment. Everything is feeling right, the horns letting us know things are going to be good. It's approximately halfway through the track when the vocals come in. This time it's Dandy Wellington on vocals, and of course he does an excellent job.
The Glenn Crytzer Orchestra presents a swinging rendition of "I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In," a wonderful instrumental rendition. Joe McDonough and Jason Prover deliver some great, exciting stuff on trombone and trumpet respectively, and toward the end, there is a delightful, though short, lead by Dennis Lichtman on clarinet. This track has a fun ending. It is followed by a sweet rendition of "Silent Night," one of the best of the traditional Christmas numbers. The vocals are provided by Glenn Crytzer, Mike Davis and Ricky Alexander. The music is a dreamlike dance, a magical waltz that captures some of what people claim the holiday is about. A wonderful rendition. The band turns playful again then with its rendition of "Up On The Housetop." It's instrumental rendition, a good choice for this song, for its lyrics are not all that interesting. It isn't long before this track starts swinging, and it features some wonderful leads, including one on violin.
Then we get back to original material with "Hey, Mister Snowflake." There is a really nice joy to the music; it makes you want to go out and dance in the lightly falling snow. Hannah Gill is on vocals. I love the lyrics' play on the idea of no two snowflakes being alike: "You're so individual, there'll never be another like you." This is a totally delightful number. Dandy Wellington joins Glenn Crytzer on vocals for "All I Want For Christmas Is Food," the two of them engaging in a little spoken word section at the beginning, talking about how food is the best part of the holiday. And then Dandy takes lead vocal duties: "Hand me the eggnog, pass me the pie/Give me the stuffing and a turkey thigh/I might even fry the gizzard if I'm in the mood/All I want for Christmas is food." I should have been expecting something fun like this, but when I first glanced at the track list, I imagined this song might be about homeless people who are hungry. Then we are treated to "The Krampus," an original number about the darker aspect of the holiday. It's a playful number, with some totally delicious vocal work by Glenn Crytzer, Mike Davis and Ricky Alexander. The song might seem to combine Halloween and Christmas themes, but really this is a traditional Christmas thing, just one that folks generally ignore, especially in this country. "Something evil's lurking/Come to take your little soul/Watch out for the Krampus/He's an evil man/He comes on Saint Nick's day/To take away the naughty children/Better mind your manners/Better not talk back/Don't make a peep, or when you sleep/He'll stuff you in his sack." This is one of my personal favorite tracks. Everything about this is just perfect.
"The Little Tree," or at least its title, makes me think of the Charlie Brown Christmas television special's tree. It's a song that looks back to that first holiday in a relationship when a couple was too poor to purchase gifts to put beneath the tree. Glenn Crytzer is on vocals for this rather sweet number. That's followed by an instrumental rendition of "The Dreidel Song." Honestly, I think I first became aware of this song when watching South Park. Anyway, as with the other holiday songs, this band makes this song swing, putting their own sort of magic to it, creating a lively celebration. I especially love the clarinet. The album concludes with an original number, "Keep A Little Christmas In Your Heart," a slower, pretty song featuring a gorgeous vocal performance by Hannah Gill. The song is about extending the holiday feeling throughout the year. "If you want the world to be/A place that lives in harmony/For more than just December/Here's what you must remember/If you keep a little Christmas in your heart all year/You'll find that your worries all will disappear." A hopeful number to wrap things up beautifully.
CD Track List
- Over The River And Through The Wood
- Underneath The Mistletoe
- I'm Sorry, Santa Claus
- Deck The Halls
- It's A Wonderful Life
- Tea (Chinese Dance)
- An Old Fashioned Christmas
- Playing Santa Claus
- Christmas In New York
- Toyland
- Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
- I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In
- Silent Night
- Up On The Housetop
- Hey, Mister Snowflake
- All I Want For Christmas Is Food
- The Krampus
- The Little Tree
- The Dreidel Song
- Keep A Little Christmas In Your Heart
No comments:
Post a Comment