A Dave Brubeck Christmas

Brubeck delivers a cool-jazz Christmas album that you'll have to break out year after year. It's just him at the piano on this 1996 recording, bringing class and joy to Santa Claus Is Coming to Town; Winter Wonderland; Away in a Manger; Joy to the World; The Christmas Song; Jingle Bells , and more. You're also treated to two Brubeck originals: To Us Is Given and Run, Run, Run to Bethlehem !

Dave Brubeck's moving liner notes to this 14-number assortment of solo jazz piano works are almost as good as his impressions of the standards and lesser-know Christmas music. Mixing jazz playing with classical flourishes and splashes of blues, Brubeck deftly expands the sound of Christmas. You'll never hear a "Silent Night" like Brubeck's as the glistening introduction leads to a powerful meditation on the melody. And for sheer fun, there are his swinging opening numbers, "'Homecoming' Jingle Bells" and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." There's magic and majesty in the ivories as he renders "Cantos para Pedir las Posadas," "To Us Is Given," and "Run, Run, Run to Bethlehem." --Martin Keller