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Jay McShann: Jim & Jay’s Christmas
Sackville SKCD2-3054

Following the success of The Sackville All Star Christmas Record, there was a resurgence of great jazz Christmas albums being produced. After playing on that record, Jim Galloway returns with his saxophone, while Jay McShann comprises the other half of Jim & Jay. The two worked magic on this record backed by Neil Swainson and Archie Alleyne, who played bass and drums respectively. Christmas albums were out of style for jazz primarily because so many traditional carols are too structured, and their rigidity makes them ill-suited for easy jazz arrangements but these artists worked together to find some truly standout songs to record and truly make their own in a distinctly jazz tradition.



The Sackville All Star Christmas Record (Sackville 3038) from 1986 was one of the labels best sellers and helped revive a moribund genre. Jim Galloway returns for this second collection of Christmas songs on Sackville. This 1992 quartet session also features pianist Jay McShann. There is a mysterioso version of “Silent Night”, imaginative arrangements of hackneyed popular songs (“Rudolph” and “”Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”), sensitive ballads (“White Christmas” and “The Christmas Song”), jazz flavored tunes (“Christmas in New Orleans” and “Harlem”) and a couple of McShann’s specialties – a rhythm based romp (“Christmas Candy”) and a reworking of traditional blues ideas (“Christmas Baby”). “A fine swing-oriented mainstream set”. – allmusic.com

1. Silent Night 3:14
2. Christmas Night In Harlem 4:09
3. I’ll Be Home For Christmas 3:02
4. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus 4:39
5. White Christmas 4:08
6. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear 4:36
7. Christmas In New Orleans 6:32
8. Jay’s Christmas Candy 3:53
9. Hark The Herald Angels Sing 4:42
10. The Christmas Song 4:15
11. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer 3:55
12. Hootie’s Christmas Baby 4:47
13. Silver Bells 4:26
14. Auld Lang Syne 4:35

Jim Galloway, soprano, tenor and baritone saxophones
Jay McShann, piano
Neil Swainson, bass
Archie Alleyne, drums

Recorded November 8 & 9, 1992