The magic of Christmas is truly captured to magnificent effect on this remarkable CD.Make no mistake, Ella holds nothing back on these wonderful recordings.The CD is made up of the complete original album with the fabulous orchestral arrangements by Frank Devol plus two previously unreleased tracks and alternative takes. There is something very special about the music of Christmas which conjures up all our memories of Christmas's past and this CD is no exception.
Ella and the orchestra power-house their way through these songs and are still able to capture the spirit of the season and never sacrifice the meaning of the lyrics or the integrity of the music for a second.
This album is far removed from her other Christmas album which was a much more low key affair as the vocal and orchestral arrangements were much more subdued and recorded as a set of Christmas carols "ballad style" with a bluesy feel to the album.
The tracks on this present CD are superb and flawless - just what one would expect from probably the best female jazz singer of all time.For a great sounding zappy Christmas album it just doesn't get any better than this.
The original album was recorded in Columbia's 30th Street studios in the heart of Manhattan,New York City in the early summer of 1960.The bonus tracks were recorded the same year in Hollywood,California with another fine arranger,Russ Garcia who also did all the arrangements for Ella and Louis Armstrong's famous album of George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess.
The liner notes of this Christmas album contain much interesting information about the recording and make very good reading if you are an avid Ella fan.The sound is amazing and nothing has been lost in the remastering of this album. I recommend this great CD for your Christmas entertaining this holiday and if you are alone at Christmas time and feeling a bit low,how about giving this album a spin to lift your spirits high. May I wish you joy and peace this Christmas and happy listening!