(Reprinted from the December 2023 issue of New York City Jazz Record)
Pent-up demand? Rampant escapism? A sudden groundswell of goodwill? For some reason, an unprecedented number of thematic vocal jazz performances and releases come to New York this holiday season. Given the geo-cultural-political-climactic-financial upheavals that attended 2023, perhaps we might just accept this downpour as a gift—whatever its provenance.
Most of the songs on Gregory Porter’s first-ever holiday album, Christmas Wish (Blue Note), speak of peace, hope, love—yardsticks by which we measure the year at its closing. Released in November, the record covers many of the winter classics (“Silent Night”, “Do You Hear What I Hear?”, “Little Drummer Boy”). But the crossover composer has his own songs—and point of view—to add to the holiday lexicon; his three originals (“Christmas Wish”, “Heart For Christmas”, “Everything’s Not Lost”) remind us of our responsibilities toward others in our world, the message wrapped in that generous, comforting baritone.
Porter invited 2023’s breakout jazz star Samara Joy to join him on “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”, a yummy ballad, sweet with strings and warm feeling. Joy has her own seasonal debut, A Joyful Holiday (Verve) that channels this same affability—especially on the traditional jazz tunes that fill most of the tracks. But both Porter and Joy developed their powerhouse voices in the church, and gospel is never a far remove from their work as jazz singers. Thus both employ gospel vocals on their respective albums: Hear Porter’s rousing exultations on the title cut or Joy’s choir-backed praise on “O, Holy Night”. The gospel singers on the latter are Joy’s family—she’ll be touring the record with them throughout December, with a stop at the Apollo on Dec. 14-15.
Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane and actor Liz Gillies recall the flirty duets of Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney on We Wish You The Merriest, a Verve/Republic Records release. No surprise, perhaps, that several of the album’s tunes are best known from animated Christmas specials (“Frosty the Snowman”, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “Holly Jolly Christmas”) or beloved seasonal movies (“"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", “Happy Holiday", "Here Comes Santa Claus"). Notably, these popular films and TV shows were created in the mid-20th century, when jazz was the lingua franca of orchestrators and soundtracks. Arranger Andrew Cottee artfully captures this retro vibe on each of the 13 songs, framing MacFarlane’s happy crooning and Gillies charming delivery with festive orchestrations.
With a categorically different take on holiday classics, pianist/composer George Burton puts forth The Yule Log (Porge Records)—nine stunning modern jazz treatments of both well- and lesser-known melodies. Vocalists Nancy Harms and Aryssa Leigh Burrs shine all the brighter for the chamber setting (rhythm section plus three strings), but don’t be misled: the groove and the bite are the main takeaways here. Burton celebrates the album release at Dizzy's on Dec. 5.
Not every event this month relates to sleigh bells and mistletoe. London-based American singer Stacey Kent will introduce Summer Me, Winter Me (Naïve) at Birdland Dec. 13-16; this multi-lingual collection highlights tunes from some of our most romantic musical storytellers—Michel Legrand, Jacques Brel and Antonio Carlos Jobim among them. As a follow-on to their 2019 debut as a duo, LP1, this month vocalist Theo Bleckmann and electronic musician Joseph Branciforte self-release LP2, a marvel of improvisation/composition, live performance/studio recording, and human/machine sounds. Nicole Zuraitis, a 2024 Grammy nominee for How Love Begins (Outside in Music), releases a bundle of bonus tracks from those sessions with Caffeine And Affirmations (La Reserve Records) at Drom on Dec. 2.
Check this list twice: After Champian Fulton plays Django on Dec. 12, she’ll present Christmas With Champian at Birdland on Dec. 21-25. Svetlana stages New York Holidays at Blue Note on Dec. 10 and then at Birdland on Dec. 17. Kat Edmonson, too, visits Birdland with Holiday Swingin'! on Dec. 14. Blue Note sponsors Lauren Henderson’s Holiday Favorites and More on Dec. 17. Stephanie Nakasian’s holiday tour takes her to Chelsea Table + Stage on Dec. 20. Meanwhile, at JALC, Ashley Pezzotti fronts Wynton Marsalis’ JLCO in Big Band Holidays on Dec. 13-17 and Tammy McCann headlines in Merry Christmas Baby on Dec. 20. The Hot Sardines offer Holiday Stomp & Midnight in Paris at Joe’s Pub on Dec. 31. And singer/composer Anne Phillips’ perennial favorite, Bending Toward the Light, A Jazz Nativity, will play at St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church on Dec. 18.