[Web master’s note: Northern California film critic Derrick
Bang — still the eldest, youngest and only son of this site’s jazz guru, Ric
Bang — has surveyed the holiday jazz scene for roughly 18 years, with lengthy
columns that just keep growing. Check out previous columns by clicking on the
CHRISTMAS label below.]
Holiday jazz has become
a full-time pursuit, in part because the Web has allowed it to flourish. Back
in the day, brick-and-mortar stores wouldn’t display their seasonal music until
mid-November, and then everything would get boxed up right after the New Year.
But the Internet knows no season, which is both a blessing and a curse: the
latter only in the sense that my friends roll their eyes when they hear
Christmas music in May. Or August.
For the most part, my
annual survey of holiday jazz focuses on new or new-ish releases. That makes it
difficult to discuss older albums that come to my attention late: In a column
otherwise devoted to current, easy-to-obtain titles, it’s not necessarily fair
to extol the virtues of an obscure disc which, being a decade old, may not be
readily available any longer.
All this by way of
explaining (justifying?) this bonus column’s “catch-up” theme. Most of the
albums discussed here will require some dedicated searching, either because
they didn’t sell well; or were released in small numbers; or released only in a
specific region (or outlet); or have international origins. But as I learned
years ago, obscurity isn’t necessarily an indication of quality; if the Web’s
involvement in the changing music scene has taught us anything, it’s the need not to judge a disc by its cover. I’ve
been burned by plenty of ubiquitous mainstream releases, and delighted by an
equal number of seemingly “sketchy” albums that prove to contain plenty of great
music.
Fair warning, then: If
my enthusiasm prompts a flicker of interest in any of the following titles, be
prepared to indulge in the thrill of the hunt. After all, the best things in
life are worth struggling for, right?
Onward!
**********
Once upon a time, during
happier economic days, Nordstrom stores often featured live music by local
pianists who’d set up at the base of the escalators: an impressive “touch of
class” that, sadly, was axed by cost-cutting bean-counters. For awhile, though,
it was great exposure for up-and-coming musicians, and the store also released
a few seasonal CDs on an in-house label.
I somehow missed Dehner
Franks’ Holiday Lights (AEI Music
Network), a 1999 release that deserved far better exposure than it received;
it’s a lovely, lyrical and frequently lively collection of holiday standards,
delivered in a blend of solo piano and small combo formats.
I love Franks’ up-tempo
arrangements, best showcased on tracks such as the opener, “Sleigh Ride,” and a
rock-inflected handling of the “Hallelujah Chorus.” He cleverly syncopates
“Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” which also offers a cool bass line, and his
samba-hued cover of “Feliz Navidad” is a lot of fun.
He’s well supported by
bassist Douglas Barnett and drummer Steve Korn; guest guitarist Dan Heck also
brings considerable sparkle to a bluesy arrangement of “This Christmas.”
A few percussive
elements are overworked, such as the intrusive cymbal pops in the
aforementioned “Sleigh Ride” — not sure whether to blame Korn or percussionist
Larry Barilleau for those — but for the most part, this is a tasty collection
of music.
Franks’ solo offerings
include a slow, sweet reading of “The Christmas Song,” an unusually gentle
handling of “Silver Bells,” a sentimental cover of “What a Wonderful World” and
a meditative interpretation of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” which
closes the album. He also includes a charming original: “Holiday Lights,”
highlighted by soulful keyboard work and a pleasant trio arrangement that
includes a finger-snapping bridge.
Franks doesn’t include
this album on his website discography, and that’s a shame; it begs to be played
every holiday season.
