Regular Columnists

Artist: Alex Leonard
Album: Merry Cool Christmas
CD Review: There's never been a better title for a CD. Well, if this had been called Merry Smooth Jazz Christmas, perhaps, but that doesn't scan as well. Still, that's just what it be - cool, smooth jazz exuded by a talented little crew of musicians by the name of

Alex Leonard - piano, vocal
Edward Brown - guitar, lute
Steve LaSpina – bass
Danny Venditti – drums
Rijou – percussion

They take all the usual suspects and put a little swing to ‘em. Check it:

1 Silent Night 4'32
2 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 3'24
3 Carol Of The Bells 4'10
4 Bring A Torch, Jeannette, Isabella 4'18
5 Here Comes Santa Claus 2'53
6 Deck The Hall 2'17
7 Greensleeves 4'39
8 A Child Is Born 5'10
9 O Little Town Of Bethlehem 2'28
10 Little Drummer Boy 3'04
11 Let It Snow 2'31
12 The Holly And The Ivy 2'30
13 It Came Upon A Midnight Clear 3'17
14 Away In A Manger 2'25
15 Under A Blue Christmas Tree 2'52
16 O Christmas Tree 5'07
17 Auld Lang Syne 3'24

The only significant oversights to this kinda Christmas music list are Torme’s ‘Christmas Song’ and the Snoopy classic ‘Christmas Time Is Here’ (which would fit Damn fine in a combo unit like this). But what is included is a frolicsome bit of Christmas cheer that will only add bright lights and full stockings to an otherwise stuffy Christmas (if you don’t have this CD, that is). Half the songs are instrumentals, while Alex takes a lite vocal stance on the rest. Good stuff. And relatively easy to get hold of via the main CD sites.

www.alexleonard.com