Jamie Aebersold Jazz Play-A-Long
Volume 129: A Jazzy Christmas
www.jazzbooks.com
By George W. Harris

This volume from the indefatigable Jamie Aebersold is the third
Christmas Play-A-Long, and the second one in two years. This time
around, the rhythm section consists of pianist Steve Allee (who has
some great stuff of his own on Owl Records), bassist Tyrone Wheeler and
drummer Jonathan Higgins. This latest volume doesn’t have as many
“classic” Christmas tunes as Volume 125, but it still manages to bring
to light a couple of forgetten gems, such as “Angels From The Realms Of
Glory” and “Up On The Housetop.” The rhythm team is lithe and
supportive, throwing in two diverse takes of “Jolly Old St. Nick,” one
being with a very sleek shuffle beat. You can’t go wrong with “Angels
We Have Heard On High,” and the take of Claude Thornhill’s “Snowfall”
is quite sophisticated, making there something for every stocking here.