Released: 1986
Artists:
- Glenn Zottola; trumpet & flugelhorn
- George Masso; Trombone
- Phil Bodner; Alto sax, Clarinet & Piccolo
- Joe Temperly; Baritone sax, soprano sax & bass clarinet
- Derek Smith; Piano, Fender Rhodes & Celeste
- Butch Miles; Drums & chimes
- Milt Hinton; Bass
- Maxine Sullivan; vocals
Description:
I loved doing this Christmas Album which was unfortunately never re-issued on CD with all my dear friends and some real jazz legends that are no longer here with us. I went to my friend Rick Petrone who was the program director for the jazz station in Stamford CT WYRS and they helped on funding the project along with Dreamstreet Records as a holiday promotion. Everyone was extremely busy with various bands like Count Basie’s and Duke Ellington’s, so I scheduled the session in NYC on a day everyone was in town and even I had to fly in from out of town to do the session. I sat down with my dear friend George Masso, an amazing trombone player and arranger, one day on the beach when we were doing the Sarasota Jazz festival together and told him what I had in mind for the album and he certainly delivered. At the session that day we did the entire album in 7 hours straight no prior rehearsal unheard of !
Funny story there was a set up guy in the studio and after we were done he came up to me in shock. He said “I have never seen anything like this before and last week we had a rock band in here (Famous name I won’t mention) and they spent 1 full week trying to get a balance on the drums and you just did an entire album in 7 hours”. That’s what happens when you have total pros and they gave their all for me that day as it is very intense doing a whole album in one day and I very much appreciated it.
Tracks:
- Let It Snow
- Jolly Old St. Nick
- Winter Wonderland
- White Christmas
- Silent Night
- Jingle Bells
- Christmas Song
- Greensleeves
- Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
From the album cover
It is with great pleasure that we present this collection of Holiday favorites by Glenn Zottola and his All Stars. You hold in your hand a Christmas present you’ll play all year long no matter how seasonally familiar each song is. Arranged brilliantly by George Masso, each selection is a great representation of swinging, fun-filled and sensitive performances. Included, for all time, is the quintessential bass playing of Milt Hinton and the singing of the forever young Maxine Sullivan. Let me be Santa’s helper and take you through your gifts.
As the strains of “Let It Snow” hit your ears your toes will begin tapping, fingers snapping and if you don’t break out in a smile, Santa won’t visit this year. Masso’s arrangement bris- tles with Christmas cheer and each soloist makes us think – Let it snow, the swinging is just beginning.
Maxine Sullivan is like that fine wine that gets better with age. You can see her smile as she sings about “Jolly Ol St. Nicholas”, I’ll bet she knows him well. Zottola and Masso are in great form and Temperly and Bodner show us why they’re not often out of work.
Next Masso’s pen has us spending our “Winter Wonderland” south of the border. With a touch of jalepeno pepper this one will get the fireplace burning nicely.
What Christmas album would be complete without “White Christmas”. Der Bingle would have loved this version. Maxine’s reading is exceptional and with a touch of Armstrong from Zottola you could do no better.
“Silent Night” is usually the Christmas carol heard wafting thru dens and churches alike each season. Here it is treated as a crystal clear lyrical ballad by Zottola and with a soupcon of holiday celeste from Derek Smith, its the right recipe to conspire by the fire with.
Side Two begins with Maxine Sullivan singing “Jingle Bells” and its the best I’ve ever heard. Masso has us spending this holiday moment on Bourbon Street and by the time the parade passes by, no other version of this classic wil compare. Zottola invites Satchmo over in a fine tribute.
Mel Torme’s legacy to “kids from one to ninety-three” is sung here on the baritone saxo- phone of Joe Temperly. The playing is so melodically pretty, you may even want to sing along, everyone knows at least one line of this one.
“Greensleeves” has been done by choirs, organs, bagpipes and almost every combination but rarely in 4/4, and never swinging this hard. Masso’s arrangement is on the mark again and the soloists provide the spice. Milt Hinton and Butch Miles are wonderfully in charge.
“You better watch out” because in this version of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”, he’s in the fast lane. Bodner’s clarinet gets the pots cooking and Derek turns them up to boil. Even the reindeer will dance to this one. With this selection your Christmas in Jazztime is complete.
The packages are delivered and you’re ready for the best holiday ever. After such wonderfully happy music, all this helper can say is – Merry
Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!Rick Petrone,
Program Director, WJAZ 96.7 FM, Stamford, CT.