Favorite "Non-traditional" Christmas Records

I don't know about you, but I can only deal with 'straight ahead' Christmas music for a little while. That's why every year I try to pick out some holiday music in a new style. Here's a list of my current favorites from that collection.

Roomful of Christmas - Roomful of Blues

Rhode Island's favored sons, Roomful of Blues turns in a Christmas set that's both swingin' and rockin. Their version of "Run, Rudolph, Run" will make you want to dance 'round that Christmas tree.

Yule Struttin! A Bluenote Christmas - Various Artists

Well of course I have to have a jazz collection! I've got a few others but this one contains a nice mix of traditional and contemporary jazz: from Count Basie's "Jingle Bells" and Dexter Gordon's "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" to Stanley Jordon's "Silent Night" and John Scofield's ultra-cool "Chipmunk Christmas". There's fun stuff here for jazz-lover's of all stripes (except for the free-jazzers...and if anybody knows of a Christmas record with some skronkitude, send me an email!)

World Christmas - Various Artists

This one is all over the place. Originally I was drawn to it because of "Go Tell It On The Mountain" - John Scofield and the Wild Magnolias. But there are other gems here: Bob Berg and Jim Beard are joined by Arto Tuncboyacyan and Zakir Hussain for a stunning "We Three Kings", Angelique Kidjo performs a nice "O Holy Night" and Deep Forest & Lokua Kanza bring "Ave Maria". For me, the real stunner is Mino Cinelu and Dianne Reeves doing "Twelve Days of Christmas": elegant and sexy!

We Three Kings - The Roches

Yes, the Roches can be an acquired taste. Maggie, Terre and Suzzy do produce some weird harmonies...but they're pretty sounds at the same time. Check out We Three Kings if you're up for some traditional holiday music presented in a distinctly non-traditional manner.

Ultra Loung: Christmas Cocktails, Part One - Various Artists

You can't go wrong with the Ultra Lounge series. Certainly not at Christmas time. Christmas Cocktails is a beauty: so put on your best silk pajamas, pour some eggnog into a martini glass and relax to: Peggy Lee, Julie London, Lou Rawls, Dean Martin, Jackie Gleason, Nancy Wilson and Les Brown & His Band of Renown. BlogCritics in the know agree, it's plain 'ole swank-a-licious fun. Or, as it says on the cover: "Hi-Fi Holiday Cheer From Santa's Pad".

(First posted on Mark Is Cranky)

Article Author: Mark Saleski

Mark Saleski is a writer and music obsessive based out of the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. He has contributed to Jazz.com and also writes reviews for Blogcritics.org. He produces the weekly feature The Friday Morning Listen. …

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