SONGS FOR CHRISTMAS

This is the time of year when BritJazz lets it’s hair down, or what is left of it, and submits for your delight a selection of music to sooth, excite or just irritate you.  The boundaries of jazz are also stretched, sometimes to twanging point, and liberties are taken in all sorts of subtle and not so subtle ways.  Some of these you will never notice. There are two parts. The first being the ‘boy’ singers, as they used to be known back in the big band days and the second the ‘girl’ singers who are in a more reflective mood.
This year is no exception and a selection of ‘Songs For Christmas’ is presented for your post- prandial enjoyment. BritJazz has no objection if you want to sing along but draws the line at printing out the lyrics as seen on many of the popular cd issues today. Who cares?  Does anybody read them?
But this selection is not what it might seem at first glance.  No Ho Ho Ho, nary a jingle bell, not even a sprig of holly, just a selection of songs by people you know, people you thought might be dead and some you will never even have heard of. And some good jazz too. You might even be encouraged to seek out the cds from which these songs were drawn.  So, get a glass or something or dig out your other intoxicants (legal or otherwise), sit back and enjoy.

Vinyl – by Georgie Fame
Georgie is best known for his R & B work but he is a jazzer at heart. Remember his outings with the Harry South Big Band?
Here he is at Ronnie’s in November 1995 with a super band including Guy Barker, Alan Skidmore, Guy Barker and Peter King generating some heat. For good measure, Georgie’s two sons are on guitar and drums. Solos by Anthony Kerr and Peter King.

Billie Holiday – by Frank Holder
Frank goes back to 1952 when he sang with the Dankworth band and he has had a long and very successful career in music but not always in jazz. This hypnotic and haunting tribute to Billie recorded in 2000 was written by Duncan Lamont who also solos on tenor sax. Frank is still singing at the age of 89.

Bobby Breen – Route 66
Not a good choice of song when you have a lisp but Bobby never seemed to care about small matters like that. This was the 1963 Christmas recording for BBC Jazz Club by the Chris Barber band. Bobby guested for a couple of songs and other guests included Joe Harriott. Bobby died in 1972 aged 45.

Ian Shaw – Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
There are not many male jazz singers working in the UK but Ian is one of them… and the best. Guitar solo is by Paul Stacey on this jaunty version of ‘Devil’ from 1995.

Jackson Sloan – Devil May Care
I’d never heard of Jackson Sloan but was attracted by the presence of the musicians who play here.  People like Dick Morrissey, Peter King and Dick Pearce. Snowboy is also here. I may be old but I’m hip enough to know who Snowboy is.  How about you?  Bob Dorough wrote the song.  How about Mr. Sloan?  A bit like my old Grandad singing in the bath. But the music is great. Go, Snowboy.  Sounds like Miles is in town too. Jimmy Deuchar did the arrangements.

Dennis Lotis – No Such Thing As Love
Dennis must be at least 120 years old. He seems to have been around forever but he gave up singing in 2005 aged 80. Here he is in 1999 with just a pianist, Brian Dee, another veteran. Dennis knows his vocal limitations and performs well within them here in this Tony Newley song.

Vince Hill – How Do You Keep The Music Playing?
Remember Vince from your 1960s days?  What a super song by Michel Legrand and the Bergmans, beautifully sung with Laurie Johnson’s London Big Band in 1996. And that gorgeous trumpet work is by Kenny Baker. Vince is still around, aged 77, but I’m not sure if he’s still singing.

Gina Harkell – Did You See Her Smile?
A new singer for me.  This lovely song is by Bill Frisell and Gina wrote the words. Piano is by Tim Lapthorn and the vibes solo is by Anthony Kerr. The song, recorded in 2004, is a love story of a different kind and not what you might think. It’s all about the relationship between a mother and her teenage daughter.  Been there, done that.

Elaine Delmar – Halcyon Days
Wow, we are certainly producing some really super songs in this female section of the Christmas special. This was written by Duncan Lamont and the pianist is Brian Dee and the singer is that all time favourite, Elaine Delmar. Just listen to the words and the way she handles them. It doesn’t get any better than this.

Annie Ross – Ev’rytime
Annie is accompanied by the Modern Jazz Quartet with Blossom Dearie subbing for John Lewis back in 1952.  Annie, now 84, is still performing.  Should we have mentioned her age?  Will she mind?

Sandra King – Autumn In New York
Sandra is a Brit now living and working in the States. She’s not terribly well known here and only has a handful of recordings to her name. This is from a concert recorded in Washington in 1982, where she is accompanied by her Musical Director, pianist Pat Smythe (another Brit) with Tommy Cecil on bass.
I must have heard hundreds of versions of this song over the years but I think this is the definitive one, complete with verse.  It really does send shivers up my spine. It’s taken at such a slow tempo that it gives you the opportunity to hear and appreciate the words and Sandra’s perfect delivery, not forgetting Pat Smythe’s piano contributions. Great recording too. Go on, play it again.

Claire Martin – It’s Always 4 a.m.
Claire is one of our best-loved singers and here she delivers a little known Sammy Cahn and Ray Anthony song recorded in 1991. Jonathan Gee is the pianist.

Alison Dewar – Solitary Moon
Alison is from Oz but she lives and works here so we will give her temporary citizenship just for this Christmas. Nice song by Johnny Mandel and the Bergmans and not too well known. Recorded in 2007 with Graham Harvey on piano amongst others. It has a sexy, moody, late night feel to it. Julie London might have sung this to good effect.  Great cover pic of Miss Dewar on the sleeve but I’m keeping that to myself.  You’ll have to buy the cd.

Rosemary Squires – Swinging On A Star
Another veteran singer (I won’t mention her age this time) singing with the BBC Big Band and The Girl Choristers of Salisbury Cathedral (yes, really) and recorded in the Cathedral in 1994. It’s a very silly song.

The girls are really up for it with their DooWops and OoohAas just like proper backing singers. What the Bishop thought about it all we’ll never know.

Anyway, BritJazz managed to persuade the Bishop to say a few words after the performance and give the Christmas message to all our loyal followers before he had to rush off to another important engagement.

MERRY CHRISTMAS – KEEP MUSIC LIVE – BUY CDS – SUPPORT THE MUSICIANS