Connie Evingson's set of Christmas jazz has plenty of variety and mood changes. The warm singer performs a medley of "Snowfall" and "I Love the Winter Weather," interacts with guest trumpeter
Doc Severinsen on the Latin jazz number "Gesu Bambino," takes a brief "Silent Night" a cappella, and duets with guitarist/vocalist
Robert Everest on "A Cradle in Bethehem." Most impressive is "The Nutcracker Petite Suite," which has the singer's lyrics to six parts of
Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite in a very coherent six-and-a-half-minute story. Mixing together the celebratory with the reverent,
The Secret of Christmas is both entertaining and respectful. Recommended for one's Christmas jazz collection. ~ Scott Yanow