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A Swingin' Christmas

Tony Bennett
Release Date: 10/14/2008
Original Release:  2008
# of Discs:   1
J&R Item # 1044117_CD
UPC # 886973225028
Label: RPM (UK)
Buying Info
 
Track Details Credits Artist Related Shipping
Disc: 1
1. I'll Be Home For Christmas sound samples  real  |  windows media
2. Silver Bells sound samples  real  |  windows media
3. All I Want For Christmas Is You sound samples  real  |  windows media
4. My Favorite Things sound samples  real  |  windows media
5. Christmas Time Is Here sound samples  real  |  windows media
6. Winter Wonderland sound samples  real  |  windows media
7. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas sound samples  real  |  windows media
8. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town sound samples  real  |  windows media
9. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - (featuring Antonia Bennett) sound samples  real  |  windows media
10. Christmas Waltz, The sound samples  real  |  windows media
11. O Christmas Tree sound samples  real  |  windows media

To listen to sound clips, you'll need the most current version of the real player real or windows media windows media players, click to download the FREE software.
Performer: Tony Bennett
Artist: Antonia Bennett
Engineer: Al Perrotta; Travis Stefl
Producer: Phil Ramone
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Tony Bennett: Grant Langford, Marshall McDonald (alto saxophone); Doug Lawrence, Doug Miller (tenor saxophone); John Williams (baritone saxophone); Scotty Barnhart , James Zollar, Michael Williams, Kriss T. Johnson Jr. (trumpet); Clarence Banks, Alvin Walker, Dave Keim, Barry Cooper (trombone). Personnel: Gray Sargent (guitar); Toots Thielemans (harmonica); Andy Snitzer (tenor saxophone); Monty Alexander, Lee Musiker (piano); Paul Langosch (bass instrument); Harold Jones (drums). Audio Mixer: Dae Bennett. Arrangers: Frank Foster; Torrie Zito; Bill Holman; Lee Musiker. Tony Bennett reigns as one of the finest-ever jazz-oriented pop singers. Count Basie's Big Band reigns as one of the hippest-ever orchestral jazz organizations. Put them together and how could you not have one of the coolest Christmas discs ever? With Bennett's classy, heartfelt phrasing and the Count's brassy, classy, earnestly swinging large jazz band (with ace-of-the-88s Monty Alexander sitting in for the late Basie), this platter will have listeners swingin' through whatever holidays they might celebrate well into the New Year. Christmas is a time for many things, but musically, the favorite always seems to be lowered standards. Too many times, bands or vocalists trot out the usual chestnuts with few acknowledgements of their usual artistic capabilities. How nice, then, to find Tony Bennett continuing to exercise his high quality control with 2008's A Swingin' Christmas, featuring the Count Basie Big Band. The excellence on display begins with the charts, which on the big-band sides come mostly from Bill Holman -- along with a beautiful arrangement on "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" from the dearly departed Frank Foster (long a linchpin for the Basie band). Holman's great accomplishment here is to treat standards -- like "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "My Favorite Things" -- as though they were ripe for the reimagining (which, of course, they are). Producer Phil Ramone balances the accompaniment well, moving from small group to big band with no speed bumps, and the basic quartet is anchored by pianist Monty Alexander (who Bennett thanks "for sitting in and playing in a Basie style"). Although Bennett's voice shows increasing signs of age here, his interpretive gifts are untouched and unimpeachable, especially when the material calls for sensitivity (the closing "O Christmas Tree," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"). ~ John Bush
One of the finest voices of 20th century American pop, Tony Bennett began his career in the '50s, under the watchful eye of producer Mitch Miller, recording huge hits such as "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," and "Because of You." In 1958, his album BASIE SWINGS-BENNETT SINGS was a precursor to later jazz-based work. That same year, "Firefly" was Bennett's last US Top 40 entry until 1962, when he made a major comeback with the Grammy-winning "I Left My Heart In San Francisco." In '93 and '94 he was awarded Grammys for his albums PERFECTLY FRANK and STEPPIN' OUT.
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Pop   Christmas  
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PID # 4255905


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