ProJazz.net

Featuring Stanley Clarke, Eddie Henderson, and George Cables among others, Mellow Jazz Christmas is compulsory Christmas Eve material. This collection of songs errs traditional, and none of the titles are unexpected. However, the musicians all are afforded the opportunity to improvise, keeping the melody while adding their own character to the chestnut tunes everyone has heard hundreds of times.

The album’s highlight would be The George Cables Trio performing “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” Cables plays with bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Victor Lewis. This was his “A Letter To Dexter” rhythm section, and while Lewis restrains the tempo by using only brushes, Cables does branch out a bit, adding some welcome personality to what may be the most played song on this list while keeping its spirit well intact. (AllAboutJazz).

Track listing:
1 Stanley Clarke Trio– Christmas Time Is Here
Bass – Stanley Clarke
Drums – Ndugu Chancler
Piano – Patrice Rushen
4:41
2 Stanley Clarke Trio– We Three Kings
Bass – Stanley Clarke
Drums – Ndugu Chancler
Piano – Patrice Rushen
4:46
3 Eddie Henderson Project– Silent Night
Bass – Ed Howard
Drums – Billy Hart
Piano, Synthesizer – Kevin Hays
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Eddie Henderson
4:52
4 David Benoit Trio– Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Bass – Brian Bromberg
Drums – Gregg Bissonette
Piano – David Benoit
4:45
5 David Benoit Trio– O’ Tannenbaum
Bass – Brian Bromberg
Drums – Gregg Bissonette
Piano – David Benoit
2:59
6 Phil Woods Quintet– Sleigh Ride For One
Bass – Steve Gilmore
Drums – Bill Goodwin
Piano – Bill Charlap
Saxophone, Clarinet – Phil Woods
Trumpet – Brian Lynch
7 Bob Conti Quartet– Little Drummer Boy
Acoustic Guitar – Federico Ramos
Drums – Tom Walsh
Electric Bass – Alphonso Johnson
Percussion – Bob Conti
3:03
8 Bob Conti Quartet– Let It Snow
Acoustic Guitar – Federico Ramos
Drums – Tom Walsh
Electric Bass – Alphonso Johnson
Percussion – Bob Conti
9 George Cables Trio– Have Yourself A Merry Little Xmas
Bass – Rufus Reid
Drums – Victor Lewis
Piano – George Cables
10 Pete Christlieb / Slyde Hyde Quintet– White Christmas
Bass – Jim Hughart
Drums – Charles Harris (12)
Euphonium – Slyde Hyde
Piano – Tom Ranier
Saxophone – Pete Christlieb
8:04
11 Pete Christlieb / Slyde Hyde Quintet– The Christmas Song
Bass – Jim Hughart
Drums – Charles Harris (12)
Euphonium – Slyde Hyde
Piano – Tom Ranier
Saxophone – Pete Christlieb
5:03
12 Paul Smith Trio– Jingle Bells
Bass – Jim De Julio
Drums – Joe La Barbera*
Piano – Paul Smith (5)
1:45

Label: Kind Of Blue Records – KOB 10013, Kind Of Blue Records – 10013
Format: CD, Compilation
Released: 2006