Have Yourself An Alto Madness Christmas

Reviewed: 2019-12-17
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: On saxophonist Cole's superb new seasonal album, the warmth and happiness fairly burst from the leader's horn. There's ample room for playfulness as well. While his guests add color and variety on half a dozen selections, Cole reserves most of the solo space for his expressive alto—and that is by no means ill-advised. Cole remains at the top of his game; the technique is solid, the phrasing precise, the wellspring of ideas as plenteous as ever.
If You Like: Gene Ammons, Cannonball Adderley, Wynton Kelly, Kenny Burrell
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ Christmas Time Is Here (6:38) – piano starts> midtempo jam> sax solo> piano solo> guitar solo> midtempo jam> crescendo end
***2/ Let it Snow (4:20) – piano/guitar starts> fast tempo jam> sax solo> piano solo> guitar solo> fast jam> quick stop
*3/ O Christmas Tree (5:07) – full band starts> uptempo jam> bass solo> guitar solo> piano solo uptempo jam> sax solo> uptempo jam> crescendo end
4/ I’ll Be Home For Christmas (6:25) – piano starts> slow tempo jam> sax solo> guitar solo> piano solo> slow jam> slow fade
**5/ Mr. Grinch B. Bopsky (5:11) – full band starts> fast tempo jam> sizzling sax solo> piano solo> guitar solo> fast jam> quick stop
6/ I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (5:40) – guitar starts> uptempo jam> sax solo> bass solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
*7/ Christmas In New England (7:40) – piano starts> midtempo jam> sax solo> guitar solo> piano solo> midtempo jam> crescendo end
8/ Jingle Bell Rock (4:22) – drums start> uptempo jam> sax solo> guitar solo> uptempo jam> fade to stop
9/ Bad Santa (3:26) – horns start> uptempo jam> crescendo end
*10/ White Christmas (5:10) – piano starts> slow tempo jam> sax solo> piano solo> midtempo jam> slow fade
11/ Blue Christmas (4:55) – drums/piano start> midtempo jam> guitar solo> piano solo> sax solo> midtempo jam> fade
12/ Have Yourself A Merry Alto Madness Christmas (4:29) – guitar/horns start> midtempo song> sax solo> midtempo song> crescendo end
13/ A Song For Christmas (6:08) – piano starts> slow tempo jam> piano solo swings to midtempo> sax solo> midtempo jam> crescendo end
*14/ Silver Bells (1:59) – piano solo> slow sax/piano duet> slow fade
*15/ Sleigh Ride (5:19) – sax starts> uptempo jam> sax solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
***16/ The Christmas Song (2:55) – slow sax solo> fade