My favorite jazz Christmas album has always been Stan Kenton’s A Merry Christmas. But this year, Ray Charles’s The Spirit of Christmas may give the Kenton classic a run for its money! Of course, Ray is in fine form as usual. But the band! Man, the band smokes! If you’re into jazz and Christmas, you’ll do yourself a favor by running out and getting this 1985 classic!
I picked up Ray’s CD and the lovely and gracious Ms. Monheit’s holiday offering at Borders the other night. Good stuff!