
2. Little Drummer Boy......Tia Fuller
3. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!......Cyrille Aimée
4. Skating......Hot Club Of Detroit
5. Christmas Time Is Here......Warren Wolf
6. Silent Night......Christian McBride Trio
7. Christmas Star......Aaron Diehl
8. Sleigh Ride......Aaron Diehl
9. Winter Wonderland......Sachal Vasandani
10. Santa Claus, Go Straight To The Ghetto...... Christian McBride Trio
11. Carol Of The Bells......Warren Wolf
12. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas......Cécile McLorin Salvant
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"Santa Claus, Go Straight To The Ghetto" by The Christian McBride Trio
Honestly, I could end this whole preview right there. One of my favorite Jazz players--a genius without doubt--playing one of my favorite non-traditional Christmas songs. And, while a few Soul artists (and a few rock artists) have tried their hand at the James Brown classic, I don't think I've ever heard a Jazz trio attempt it. Christian McBride has graced us with holiday magic before, most notably on the single "Double Decker (Deck The Halls)" that eventually found its way to Verve's "Jazz For Joy" in 1996. Here, McBride implores the Fat Man to visit some streets in West Philly the reindeer seem to miss more often than not. Then the rest of the trio (Christian Sands and Ulysses Owens, Jr.) make pitches for their neighborhoods. And, finally, Warren Wolf and Cecile McLorin Salvant drop in to say a word or two on behalf of their 'hoods. Really, I don't care what else is on this record, I'm down with it for that track alone. All it's missing is Freda Payne (I ain't letting it go. I ain't). Bassist McBride adds a reverent and lush rendition of "Silent Night" to the proceedings, as well.


Sometimes described as saucy, sometimes as winsome, young Cyrille Aimée is a bit of a musical chameleon--at home with any style, any era, any genre, any piece of music at all. As much as audiences delight when she performs the standards, they absolutely swoon when she transforms a Michael Jackson tune or a John Fogerty song into a work of art. Her voice rings clear as a Christmas bell on a still winter's night. So the shame, here, is that she's only featured on one song, "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!". I'm sure she makes the most of it, but, to truly get to know Cyrille's brilliance, I strongly suggest you pick up her most recent release, "It's A Good Day".
And need I remind you...
"Santa Claus, Go Straight To The Ghetto" by The Christian McBride Trio
That's all I need to hear.