Oscar Peterson - An Oscar Peterson Christmas

Styles: Piano, Christmas
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:25
Size: 121,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:25)  1. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
(4:46)  2. What Child Is This?
(3:40)  3. Let It Snow
(3:48)  4. White Christmas
(3:14)  5. Jingle Bells
(2:49)  6. I'll Be Home for Christmas
(3:29)  7. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
(3:16)  8. O Little Town of Bethlehem
(6:52)  9. Christmas Waltz
(3:56) 10. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
(3:08) 11. Silent Night
(4:06) 12. Winter Wonderland
(3:33) 13. Away in a Manger
(2:17) 14. O Christmas Tree

Oscar Peterson takes it easy during his relaxed set. He had not completely recovered from his stroke but he was still an impressive pianist. Peterson, who is assisted by guitarist Lorne Lofsky, bassist David Young, and drummer Jerry Fuller, is joined by a 20-piece string section arranged and conducted by Rick Wilkins. The 14 holiday tunes (which include "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman," "White Christmas," "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas") are given tasteful and lightly swinging treatments and there are guest appearances by vibraphonist Dave Samuels and flugelhornist Jack Schantz. But no real surprises or chancestaking occurs and the music is mostly just pleasant. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/an-oscar-peterson-christmas-mw0000179179

Personnel:  Oscar Peterson – piano; Dave Samuels – vibraphone (3, 4, 7, 10, 12); Jack Schantz – flugelhorn (5, 6, 13); Lorne Lofsky – guitar; David Young – double bass; Jerry Fuller – drums; String orchestra conducted and arranged by Rick Wilkins

An Oscar Peterson Christmas

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Diana Krall - Christmas Songs

Styles: Vocal, Piano, Christmas
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:50
Size: 103,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:25)  1. Jingle Bells
(4:01)  2. Let It Snow
(4:23)  3. The Christmas Song
(3:14)  4. Winter Wonderland
(3:07)  5. I'll Be Home for Christmas
(3:34)  6. Christmas Time Is Here
(2:53)  7. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
(4:19)  8. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
(4:32)  9. White Christmas
(4:10) 10. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve
(3:27) 11. Sleigh Ride
(3:40) 12. Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep

On her first full-length Christmas album, pianist/vocalist Diana Krall delivers a smoky, sophisticated, and slightly melancholy album perfectly suited to accompany egg nog cocktails and romantic afterglow holiday affairs. Although there isn't anything unexpected on Christmas Songs Irving Berlin's "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep" is as close to obscure as it gets Krall coos life into such standards as "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve," and "I'll Be Home for Christmas." It also doesn't hurt that she gains top-notch support from the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra, whose urbane arrangements help bring to mind similar works by such iconic vocalists as Nat King Cole, June Christy, and Frank Sinatra. But it's not all deep sighs and bedroom eyes; on the contrary, Krall keeps things swinging with such uptempo numbers as the joyous "Jingle Bells," "Winter Wonderland," and the Blossom Dearie-inflected "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." If you like your holiday albums cool and classy, Christmas Songs is a stocking stuffer that's sure to please. 

~ Matt Collar https://www.allmusic.com/album/christmas-songs-mw0000703424

Personnel:  Diana Krall - piano, vocals, arranger

The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra: Jeff Hamilton - drums; Robert Hurst - upright bass; Anthony Wilson - guitar; Gerald Clayton - piano on "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"; Tamir Hendelman - piano on "Sleigh Ride", fender rhodes on "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve"; Jeff Clayton - alto saxophone, flute; Keith Fiddmont - alto saxophone, clarinet; Rickey Woodard - tenor saxophone solos, clarinet; Charles Owens - tenor saxophone, clarinet; Adam Schroeder - baritone saxophone, bass clarinet; Rick Baptist - trumpet

Christmas Songs

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Big Band All Stars - When Shadows Fall

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 29:42
Size: 68,7 MB
Art: Front

(2:51)  1. Sweet and Lovely
(3:14)  2. Song of India
(3:31)  3. Penthouse Serenade
(2:32)  4. Ramona
(2:54)  5. When Shadows Fall
(3:00)  6. Autumn Leaves
(3:31)  7. Mean to Me
(2:56)  8. The Night Is Young
(1:55)  9. Ciribiribin
(3:15) 10. Tenderly

When Shadows Fall

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Michael Law's Piccadilly Dance Orchestra - Brighter Than the Sun

Styles: Easy Listening
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:52
Size: 117,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:02)  1. Brighter Than the Sun
(2:49)  2. My Hat's On The Side of My Head
(3:46)  3. It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
(3:13)  4. It Can't Be Wrong
(2:49)  5. Masculine Women! Feminine Men!
(3:22)  6. In The Still of the Night
(3:06)  7. Jubilee Stomp
(2:59)  8. Deep In a Dream
(3:41)  9. White Jazz
(2:50) 10. You Ought to See Sally on Sunday
(3:46) 11. Midnight, The Stars and You
(3:38) 12. If I Had a Talking Picture of You
(3:11) 13. Embassy Stomp
(2:29) 14. The Lady is in Love With You
(3:09) 15. Let Yourself Go
(2:54) 16. Let's Call the Whole thing Off

The Piccadilly Dance Orchestra was founded by Michael Law in 1988. In October of that year the orchestra met for the first time to record two songs, Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town and Two Sleepy People, which were issued privately as the two sides of the orchestra's first ever release, a vinyl single. PRT records (formerly PYE records) liked it and reissued the single in time for Christmas 1988, then recorded our first album, Let Yourself Go, which was released in April 1989 on CD, cassette and vinyl LP record. In 1993 the orchestra began a series of recordings for John Yap's TER/JAY records at the world famous Abbey Road studios. Their sixth album, Brighter Than The Sun, recorded ‘live’, was released on the PICCD label in 2011. In 1992, Alan Bennett-Law joined the orchestra with the aim of matching the standard of administration, technology and customer service to the already high standards of the music. Within a short period of time, Alan negotiated the recording contract with TER/JAY records and his dynamic ideas and enthusiasm took Michael and the orchestra from strength to strength, playing for many top events and parties, as well as developing musical programmes for concert performances. The PDO's performance highlights have included many years playing for dancing for the Henley Festival, Earl Spencer's 30th Birthday Party (where Princess Diana asked the orchestra to play In The Mood - twice!), special BAFTA awards parties for Julie Andrews and Sean Connery, the first ever Proms In the Park and a residency at The Ritz Hotel in Piccadilly. Michael Law then achieved a lifelong ambition when the orchestra began a series of Saturday night dinner dances (Stompin' At The Savoy) at the cradle of British Dance Band music, the Savoy Hotel in October 1997, which continued until December 2003. Other clients include Sir John Paul Getty (60th and 70th birthday parties and a ball at Clarence House where Baroness Thatcher led the dancing), Sir Terence Conran, Earl Spencer's ball to celebrate 500 years of Althorp House and many corporate events. The orchestra have been seen on television for Wogan, Daytime Live, Pebble Mill, Play It Again and Lorraine Live. BBC live radio broadcasts include: for Radio 2 (Radio 2 Arts Programme, Friday Night is Music Night and the VE Day celebrations from Hyde Park), Radio 3 (a live lunchtime concert from the Wigmore Hall) and Radio 4 (a special edition of Loose Ends to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the BBC). Acclaimed worldwide for their spirited recreations of the music of the British Dance Bands, Michael and the PDO were especially chosen for BBC 4's highly successful Len Goodman's Dancing Feet (first broadcast in December 2012) and in July 2013, filmed a sequel, Len Goodman's Dance Band Days. …and you can catch The PDO in the Helen Mirren/Michael Caine movie "Last Orders", playing Chattanooga Choo-Choo! http://www.pdo.org.uk/History

Brighter Than the Sun

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