Southern Jazz Music

This is without a doubt my favorite Christmas CD. Unlike traditional Christmas songs sung by "celebrities" - these renditions are timeless and classic.

The transitions from beautiful orchestral arrangements to the pure nakedness of a single voice is the perfect platform for quiet, reflective meditation.

This two volume set is incredibly good. I came upon it in Target of all places. It looked like it might be good so I bought it and took it home. I was thrilled! The arrangements are terrific, the performers are top-notch, and what a variety! Everything from brass to voices to strings. One of my volumes mysteriously disappeard (I think my older son had something to do with it!) so I'm having to reorder it. I'm also going to get several as gifts.

I've bought a lot of christmas CD's and these are some that I am most pleased to listen to, any time of the year. The songs are not the same old familiar Christmas songs rearranged, but nice arrangements of a variety of songs done so anyone can appreciate them, especially the classical listener.

I loved the variety of selections on this CD. All the uplifting songs are very well done, and I highly recommend this collection.

I'd give this 5 stars, except price is hefty, & I don't feel it's quite as comprehensively good as the Decca Years compilation THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU. But it is a very good complement to that
album.

Though orchestrated by Lennie Hayton, it stays on the intimate side, with her interesting (sometimes eccentric) sultry stylings allowed to be showcased. The second half of the album is particularly good IMO, with conversational jazz colored
takes on "Deep in a Dream" & some obscure ones too like "Yesterday's Gardenias" & "I Must have That Man." You can definitely see why Peggy Lee admired her so much. Ed

Cris Cuddy's folk set has some beautiful tracks. Based in Toronto, Cuddy's idol is Mickey Newbury who appears on the back cover. (Reference Newbury's classic Frisco Mabel Joy.) Newbury also recorded Cuddy's title track on his CD A Long Road Home. The title track works well with Spanish guitar, string arrangement and Cuddy's unique lyric, "Salvation is tearing your heart off; Take a hand & beware, There is ice in the air & your friends are all waiting to see." There are a couple uptempo tracks like the opener "The Checkout Girl" & "Just for a Thrill." My favorite is the slow torch tearjerker "The Beginning of the End," with Cuddy's wistful vocals, "I've seen it coming for awhile, Tried to hide it with a smile, Now the plans that we made are beginning to fade from view." Cuddy's got some good things going for him, but the set as a whole fails to ignite for me, perhaps a bit too laid back. But there's enough here to make him worth checking out. Enjoy!