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Holiday magic
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This review first appeared in the November 29, 1994 issue of the North County Blade-Citizen (now North County Times).
Concord Records is a small, independent jazz label in Northern California with as strong an artist roster as any major label. And Concord's debut Christmas collection catapults it to the head of the class among holiday compilations.
Pianist Gene Harris' instrumental interpretation of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is a beautiful, tender rendition. Howard Alden and Ken Peplowski's guitar-clarinet performance of "Winter Wonderland" is utterly unique. And San Diego's Jeannie and Jimmy Cheatham contribute the only new song to the set, "An Apple, An Orange and a Little Stick Doll."
Every song here is a work of art. The breadth of artistic vision makes each track special, and the overall result is one of the best Christmas albums ever.