For this installment, I’ll highlight two CDs by a favorite vocalist and pianist of mine: the incomparable Nat King Cole.  Instantly recognizable, Nat King Cole’s voice was lent to many hits throughout the 50s and 60s.  Over his career, he had recorded a number of Christmas tunes.  One such collection is on his album The Christmas Song, which is the title of arguably the most famous rendition of that holiday chestnut (on an open fire).  Cole’s voice is in top form, and the orchestrations are courtesy of Ralph Carmichael.  This is very much a holiday album in the traditional sense, as you would not find Cole taking any chances with jazz renditions or trio interpretations of the classics.  To some it is an acquired tastes, but many of us grew up with albums such as this one, and it’s like comfort food.

For a more upbeat and family-oriented album, give a listen to the Cole, Christmas and Kids compilation CD.  Released in the 1990s, the songs are clearly more oriented to the little ones hanging stockings by the chimney:  “Frosty The Snowman,” “The Little Christmas Tree,” “All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)” and “Take Me Back To Toyland.”  “The Christmas Song” makes an appearance here as well, but it is an earlier and slightly less polished version.  One bonus track is a promotional spot for “Toys For Tots.”  This CD is not an actual full album, but instead collects tracks from a couple of different years all in one place, all nicely remastered and sequenced to make a nice holiday album.

One thing I demand in my music listening is variety.  And when you have a category like Christmas music, the repertoire is indeed rather slim.  Thanks to there being so many styles of music, though, you are easily able to find variety if you know where to look.  In this case, I’m looking at jump blues, by none other than Roomful of Blues.  This is the version of Roomful of Blues featuring Sugar Ray Norcia on vocals, with the appropriately titled album Roomful of Christmas.

While this isn’t a blow-your-socks-off date, it is a very nicely done package of familiar and not-so-familiar tunes done in trademark Roomful of Blues style.  “The Christmas Song,” “Let It Snow” and “White Christmas” are the familiar tracks here, while the Roomful also pick a few lesser known gems such as “I Want You With Me Christmas” and Fats Domino’s “I Told Santa Claus.”  Overall, it’s an easygoing yet fun package of holiday tunes, which hopefully might turn more listeners on to jump blues and the Roomful of Blues.  Fortunately still in print, I recommend this one for a welcome change.