There isn't a seasonal CD that'll keep the hepcats swingin' more than
Santa Claus Blues. Spanning 1925-197,1 with a generous 23 tracks, this includes the gutbucket blues of
Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra on "Merry Christmas, Baby," and
Fats Wallers' humorous arrangement of "Swingin' Them Jingle Bells,"
Jimmy Rushing as the vocalist in the
Count Basie Orchestra on "Good Morning Blues (I Want to See Santa Claus)," and a mournful-sounding
Victoria Spivey on "Christmas Morning Blues." From the Crescent City, there's the title cut from the
Clarence Williams' Blue Five (with
Louis Armstrong and
Sidney Bechet),
Louis Prima's playful "What Will Santa Claus Say (When He Finds Everybody Swingin')," and
Louis Armstrong finishes with five selections, including "Cool Yule" and "'Zat You, Santa Claus." Highly recommended.