Reviewed by Tony Cummings

This reviewer has gone on record dissing Christmas songs with lyrics that lift up Santa or songs that offer kitsch family holiday sentimentality in place of the wonders of the incarnation. So there was never going to be much chance of enthusing over an album that started with "Winter Wonderland", then "The Christmas Song" and then descended further to the banal nadir of "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree". But wait, there are some carols here. "Angels We Have Heard On High" and a medley: "We Three Kings/Away In A Manger/Silent Night, Holy Night". Better still, all the songs, secular and sacred, are instrumental versions that avoid the muzac easy listening renditions that hotel foyers and shopping malls often foist on their helpless customers. And best of all, Garry Jones is an excellent jazz pianist while Mark Fain (bass), John Willis (guitar) and Shannon Forrest (drums) are no slouches either. Very much in Oscar Peterson-like cocktail jazz style, this album released in 1994 was never going to win any awards. But if you're looking for mellow Christmas music that is relaxing without being soporific this jazz quartet show their expertise with minor chord invention.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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