Musical Advent Calendar, Day 19: Nutcracker Overture

My Mission: One holiday-themed, non-carol song every day between now & Christmas. It's my own version of an Advent calendar. I may succeed, I may fail, but there will at least be some good music posted ... music you won't hear at the mall, that hopefully won't make you end up looking like him. ----->

(via www.jazzbluesclub.com)December 19th: Overture to Nutcracker Suite, arr. Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn. (Often heard and seen this time of year, this arrangement of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite ranks among my favorite of any "crossover" [for lack of better term] albums. It's such typical Ellingtonia: a great Paul Gonsalves tenor solo, Harry Carney's great bari sound, and a deep-rooted swing. There's a good video of Jazz at Lincoln Center performing it, too.)

(You can see previous songs here. Email me or comment below if you have a tune suggestion!)

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 18: It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas

 My Mission: One holiday-themed, non-carol song every day between now & Christmas. It's my own version of an Advent calendar. I may succeed, I may f(Image via Wikipedia)ail, but there will at least be some good music posted ... music you won't hear at the mall, that hopefully won't make you end up looking like him. ----->

The 18th of December: "It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas" by The Pet Shop Boys. ("Live" video.)

(You can see previous songs here. Email me or comment below if you have a tune suggestion!)

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 17: L'Adorizione dei Magi

 My Mission: One holiday-themed, non-carol song every day between now & Christmas. It's my own version of an Advent calendar. I may succeed, I may fail, but there will at least be some good music posted ... music you won't hear at the mall, that hopefully won't make you end up looking like him. ----->

December 17: "L'Adorizione dei Magi" from Trittico Botticelliano by Ottorino Respighi. (Three movements about three paintings by Botticelli: "Spring," "Adoration of the Magi," & "The Birth of Venus." This movement, featuring bassoon & oboe solos, is based on "O Come, O Come Emmanuel.")

(You can see previous songs here. Email me or comment below if you have a tune suggestion!)

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 16: Christmas Wrapping

My Mission: One holiday-themed, non-carol song every day between now & Christmas. It's my own version of an Advent calendar. I may succeed, I may fail, but there will at least be some good music posted ... music you won't hear at the mall, that hopefully won't make you end up looking like him. ----->

Day 16: "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses. (Recorded in 1981 by this new wave band from Akron, Ohio. They also recorded an 80s hit "I Know What Boys Like." Very catchy, and the bassist is pretty funky - in a good way!)

If you can't get enough of this song (and some days I can't) check out the covers by the Spice Girls and Miranda Cosgrove.

(You can see previous songs here. Email me or comment below if you have a tune suggestion!)

Another Musical Advent Calendar Bonus!

The Bing Crosby/David Bowie Little Drummer Boy has become a classic Christmas-time video. That, of course, means it's up for satire, and Will Farrell & John C. Reilly recently put their spin on it ... almost word-for-word, up to the ending .....

The Washington Post has a good story about how the original video came to be.

(You can see previous songs in my Musical Advent Calendar here. Email me or comment below if you have a tune suggestion!)