A Merry Christmas by Stan Kenton - DeepRiffs

COMPILATION

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 /TiVo

1. O Tannenbaum

Primary Artist: Stan Kenton; Main Performer
Composer: Traditional
Ralph Carmichael; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Ron Mcmaster; Production
Producer: Lee Gillette; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron Mcmaster; Production

2. The Holly And The Ivy

Primary Artist: Stan Kenton; Main Performer
Composer: Traditional
Ralph Carmichael; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Ron Mcmaster; Production
Producer: Lee Gillette; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron Mcmaster; Production

3. We Three Kings Of Orient Are

Primary Artist: Stan Kenton; Main Performer
Composer: Traditional
Ralph Carmichael; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Ron Mcmaster; Production
Producer: Lee Gillette; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron Mcmaster; Production

4. Good King Wenceslas

Composer: Traditional
Ralph Carmichael; Composer
Primary Artist: Stan Kenton; Main Performer
Producer: Lee Gillette; Production

5. The Twelve Days Of Christmas

Primary Artist: Stan Kenton; Main Performer
Composer: Traditional
Ralph Carmichael; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Ron Mcmaster; Production
Producer: Lee Gillette; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron Mcmaster; Production

6. Once In Royal David's City

Primary Artist: Stan Kenton; Main Performer
Composer: Traditional
Ralph Carmichael; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Ron Mcmaster; Production
Producer: Lee Gillette; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron Mcmaster; Production

7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Primary Artist: Stan Kenton; Main Performer
Composer: Traditional
Ralph Carmichael; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Ron Mcmaster; Production
Producer: Lee Gillette; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron Mcmaster; Production

8. O Come, All Ye Faithful

Primary Artist: Stan Kenton; Main Performer
Composer: Stan Kenton
Traditional; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Ron Mcmaster; Production
Producer: Lee Gillette; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron Mcmaster; Production

9. Angels We Have Heard On High

Primary Artist: Stan Kenton; Main Performer
Composer: Traditional
Ralph Carmichael; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Ron Mcmaster; Production
Producer: Lee Gillette; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron Mcmaster; Production

10. O Holy Night

Primary Artist: Stan Kenton; Main Performer
Composer: Traditional
Ralph Carmichael; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Ron Mcmaster; Production
Producer: Lee Gillette; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron Mcmaster; Production

11. Christmas Medley

Primary Artist: Stan Kenton; Main Performer
Composer: Stan Kenton
Traditional; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Ron Mcmaster; Production
Producer: Lee Gillette; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron Mcmaster; Production

12. What Is Santa Claus?

Composer: J. Thurman
W. Goulden; Composer
Primary Artist: Stan Kenton; Main Performer
Producer: Lee Gillette; Production

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

12 tracks available

Type

COMPILATION

Format

Digital Media

Duration

34 minutes and 23 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1500x1500 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

4/12 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

No synced lyrics found

Genres

Ambient, New Age, Comedy, Other, Holiday, Holiday Music

Label

Blue Note Records

Music Distribution Service

UMG Global

Country

United States

Language

German (Germany)
English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Sep 15, 2003

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

602435568867