A Merry Christmas! Stan Kenton

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CD

  • Release Date: 09/16/2003
  • Sales Rank: 1,126
  • Label: BLUE NOTE RECORDS
  • UPC: 724358464627

Listener Rating: (1 ratings)

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  • Overview
  • Tracks
  • Editorial Reviews
  • Customer Reviews
  • Details & Credits
Track List
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A Merry Christmas!

1LISTENO Tannenbaum 1:58
2LISTENThe Holly and the Ivy 1:52
3LISTENWe Three Kings of Orient Are 2:14
4LISTENGood King Wenceslas 1:45
5LISTENThe Twelve Days of Christmas 4:07
6LISTENOnce in Royal David's City 2:04
7LISTENGod Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 1:46
8LISTENO Come All Ye Faithful 3:17
9LISTENAngels, We Have Heard on High 2:11
10LISTENO Holy Night 2:10
11LISTENChristmas Medley: Joy to the World/Away in a Manger/The First Noel 8:24
12LISTENWhat Is a Santa Claus? 2:32
13LISTENChristmas for Moderns: The First Noel/White Christmas/O Come All ... 7:07

About this Artist

Editorial Reviews

When bandleader Stan Kenton was approached to record an album of holiday music in 1961 he agreed, on one condition -- no songs about singing snowmen or flying reindeer. The resulting album, A Merry Christmas, is a polyphonic masterpiece that is at once progressive and traditional. Included are such well-known classics as "O Tannenbaum" and "The Twelve Days of Christmas" as well as lesser known gems like "The Holly and the Ivy" and "Once in Royal David's City." Featuring Kenton's idiosyncratic style of arranging piercing trumpets over a wooly blanket of trombones and mellophones, this is beautiful, forward-thinking and angular music that addresses both complex classical harmony and Basie-style swing. Epitomizing this is the intricate and delicate harmonic dissonance on "O Come, All Ye Faithful," a must-hear for Kentonites. As a bonus, the album includes Kenton regular trumpeter Maynard Ferguson's stellar 1960 medley "Christmas for Moderns," which features the high-note master's hip takes on such other holiday nuggets as "White Christmas" and "Jingle Bells." Fans should also get a kick out of Kenton's humorous 1963 spoken word piece "What Is Santa Claus?." Matt Collar, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

  • Listener Rating:
  • Ratings: 1Reviews: 1

A Merry Christmasby Anonymous

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October 29, 2006: 43 minutes of music for $10 and change... maybe not the best value. But we're talking Stan Kenton and the creativity of Ralph Carmichael here! I got this CD last Christmas and honestly listen to it throughout the entire year. Sometimes I listen to it 3-4 times a day, and even put it on to fall asleep to. We all know how annoying Christmas music can get. But when the traditional melodies are tweaked slightly, and there are countermelodies galore, along with unbelievable time signatures, it is almost impossible to get sick of this music. I have even pulled my trumpet out on occasion and played along. I was first introduced to this music when watching the UMASS jazz ensemble perform some of it at a concert two years ago. Last year we played this version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" in jazz band at my school. I cannot imagine having another Christmas without these euphonic sounds. You don't have to like Stan Kenton's other music (or know anything about it), or be a jazz enthusiast to appreciate and recognize the unique qualities of this music. If you buy this CD you will find yourself lost in the Christmas spirit in no time. I should be thinking Halloween right now but all I can think of is CHRISTMAS! If you buy this CD chances are you won't put it away after the holidays. It will pay for itself after one listen, because with that one listen you will automatically start listening to it over, and over, and over again!