Let's Share Christmas
The seasoned jazz singer and exceptional seven-string guitar player John Pizzarelli reprises a bit of the Sinatra/big-band/swing-band era holiday record with orchestral arrangements that zing and pop or slowly burn like the last log on the fire. Pizzarelli's fluid vocal and instrumental manner readily lends itself to the diverse settings throughout, whether it's the string-laden pop romance of the title track or the pure-jazz setup with the John Pizzarelli Trio on a fleet, swinging "Sleigh Ride" (dig Piz's dazzling guitar work and that of his pianist, Ray Kennedy). The arrangements and charts are first rate, as producer Ron Fair gives his band members plenty of room to showcase without dominating the mix. Classy, warm, and bright, here's one holiday album that's deliciously paced for a black tie party or an intimate, silk-pajama tête-à- tête.--Martin Keller