Grammy Favorite Patti Austin Celebrates A Heartfelt Christmas

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African American, Christmas Music, Patti Austin

Patti Austin

Grammy winning vocalist, Patti Austin ushers in the holiday season with the sumptuous, spiritually moving three-song digital only EP, An Inspirational Holiday, to be released December 16th on Concord Records. This special digital only EP will be available at all digital retail outlets. Unlike most Christmas albums that feature rearranged carols, classic songs associated with the season and winter-themed fare, Austin takes a decidedly different tack by celebrating the true essence of Christmas. “I wanted to put together three powerful songs that burr into people’s hearts and minds,” says Austin. “I wanted to get down to the basics of Christmas-the spiritual side that talks about the ideals of Christ, who was a selfless person who taught that united we stand and divided we fall. And I wanted to keep the production simple so that nothing would distract from the power of the lyrics and music.”

Origin Records Holiday Collection

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Christmas Music, Jazz, Origin Records

Hi everyone, Origin Records has released a few gems for the Christmas Season. We decided to drop a couple on you to see what you think about them … enjoy!!

Various Artists, “The Cool Season: An Origin Records Holiday Collection, Vol. 2”

VA, The Cool Season

The latest holiday collection from Origin Records, “The Cool Season” is an accessible, modern offering for the Christmas season. With pianist Bill Anschell, Thomas Marriott on trumpet, bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop, the quartet journeys through all shades of winter with arrangements on such classics as “Christmas Time is Here,” and “Winter Wonderland,” season-themed standards like Alec Wilder’s “Blackberry Winter,” and even a remake of Willie Nelson’s “Pretty Paper,” adding a new twist to the holiday-country hit. A perfect stocking stuffer for anyone who needs their stockings stuffed!

Go here, to listen too and possibly purchase.

Various Artists, “Winter: An Origin Records Holiday Collection” | Origin 82408

VA, Winter

The quartet of Origin stablemates – Hans Teuber, Dave Peterson, Jeff Johnson and John Bishop – present a soothing, subtly swinging recording of holiday songs including arrangements of Coventry Carol, O Christmas Tree, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, & Lo, How A Rose E’re Blooming, and originals in the spirit of the season – December & Winter Waltz by Dave Peterson. Great for year ëround listening.

Visit, Origin Records and discover some of today’s significant nu-voices in jazz.

The Weekend Spin [Jackets, DeFrancesco, Sanchez & Najee]

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Christmas Music, Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Joey DeFrancesco, Latin Jazz, Najee, Organ, Poncho Sanchez, The Yellowjackets

Greeting’s  fellow jazz enthusiast … Friday has finally arrived.  Today we’re kicking off the weekend with another appetizing array of superb jazz. Being that it’s the “Christmas Season,” we thought we’d pull out jazz super-group the “Yellowjackets” and their infallible interpretations of Christmas classics titled “Peace Round.”

Yellowjackets, Peace

Yellowjackets | Peace Round – “A Christmas Celebration” [Heads Up/Christmas Jazz/2003]

Recording a Christmas collection poses some unique challenges. One must make these familiar Christmas songs personal but at the same time respect their original intent and the spirit of the season. We felt we could best do this by capturing lyrical and relaxed performances. We also wanted to render the songs as directly as possible with spare use of overdubbing. Therefore most performances are first or second takes and all but two are just the quartet live. ~ Yellowjackets.com

New Album by Urban Sax Icon Boney James

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Boney James, Saxophone, Smoothjazz, Urban Jazz

Boney James

Boney James | Send One Your Love [Coming Soon!]

On February 3, 2009 Concord Records will release “Send One Your Love,” a 10-track album of seductive love songs from sax icon Boney James. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Boney has put together the ultimate “musical valentine.” Send One Your Love includes new James originals as well as covers from Stevie Wonder, Barry White, the Stylistics and more. The album follows his Concord debut – Shine­ – which received rave reviews and landed him at #1 on the Contemporary Jazz charts and #6 on the R & B chart.