al jarreau - CHRISTMAS
Jarreau has wanted to do a Christmas album for a long time. The two projects he most often spoke over the years were an album of standards, which he delivered a few years ago with the brilliant Accentuate The Positive and this holiday project. Christmas and Accentuate the Positive have a lot in common, actually. They both have that feeling of warmth that comes when you turn your recording sessions into a gathering of friends, the song selections cover familiar standards, off-the-wall gems, and some tasty originals, and he is in fine form vocally, sounding as much at ease and in his own zone as he did in his early career recordings when he wasn't trying to push himself into palatable pop-hit mode. Not many artists can reinvent beloved holiday tunes and add pop and jazz elements to traditional carols without sounding contrived but with the help of his musical compatriouts that is exactly what he does. Luckily, Christmas has the record company support that Accentuate could not get. GRP was crashing, Rhino is thriving, so you will be able to hear and find this album now and for many seasons to come.

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michael lington - HEAT
Where there’s fire, there’s heat…and this album is no exception!  After listening to Michael Lington’s latest offering, Heat, for the first time, I immediately thought “Michael is back!!”  I always think of Michael’s music as being upbeat and funky, yet emotional; a musical journey from start to finish.  Heat delivers exactly what Michael is famous for.  While his last album, A Song For You, showed his sheer talent and versatility, Heat truly allows Michael’s personality to come through and a star-studded array of musicians accompanying him didn’t hurt either.  The backup came from such notables as Vinnie Colaiuta, Greg Phillinganes, and Torcuato Mariano. Danny and Michael Sembello, Nathan East, and Brian Culbertson.  Add to that vocals by AceYoung, Aaron Neville, and Keely Hawkes, and production by Keith Olsen, Greg Phillinganes, and Matthew Hagar, along with Michael himself.

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spyro grya - A NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Here's a holiday CD for people who want their jazz and Christmas too.' And although the track list contains one original track and ten very familiar Christmas tunes, they are all done with a twist only Spyro Gyra can bring. So if you like your smooth jazz not so smooth, and you like to put those holiday CDs on and enjoy the season with music, then A Night Before Christmas is for you.

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