Books Movies & Music / Music CDs / Martha Stewart Living - Jazz For The Holidays

Martha Madness

Okay, the world has finally gone into a headspin and I have come to the tragic realization that some people can actually realize their dreams of taking over the world.... or at least everything in it!

Say It Aint So...

Nothing says Christmas like a Martha Stewart album, right ? What do you mean, no ? Now, before you get too excited and knock your Everyday Living coffee mug over onto your Everyday Living bedspread and need your Everyday Living towel to mop it up (incase you don't have the Everyday Living Wet Dry Vac), understand that our maven of marketing does NOT actually sing on this CD, she does NOT actually play any instruments on this CD, nor has she arranged any tracks, she just has enough money to stick her picture (oh, and wearing black - how festive) on the cover of a CD, suggest ( perhaps ) 16 tracks to toss together and hey presto! It's HER CD!!

The artist list reads like a veritable who's who of the jazz scene with greats such as Duke Ellington, Tony Bennett, and Wynton Marsalis to name but 3, and as much as I hate to admit it - I enjoy this CD.

Tell Me More

It's not so much a cornocopeia of carols, as this consists of a selection of the normal tracks found on any Christmas album, I guess it was easy for Martha to pull this one (and the others in the collection) due to the over abundance of Christmas related music out there. This being said, I find it delightful as a change of pace while dressing the tree, getting a little beatnik perhaps and grooving to the cool, sax instead of bouncing around to Fr. Guido or Cheech and Chong's Christmas tracks.
Since there is so much competition in this category of CD come Christmas time, I can't truly be the judge of what you know you will enjoy, for that matter, I will now delight you with the titilating track titles as found on said CD.....

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Chris Botti Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - Tony Bennett Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer - Tuck Andress T'was The Night Before Christmas - Wynton Marsalis - LOVE THIS ONE!! Sugar Rum Cherry - Duke Ellington O Come All Ye Faithful - Monte Croft Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - Grover Washington Jr. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Steve Tyrell - ALWAYS makes me cry Snowfall - Tex Beneke Deck The Halls - Herbie Hancock Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Dexter Gordon O Christmas Tree - Russell Malone Winter Weather - Benny Goodman Shake Hands With Santa Claus - Keely Smith Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt - CLASSIC! Winter Wonderland - Louis Armstrong
The End

Rather than bore you to tears with a breakdown of each song, since I am certain that you will be familiar with most, if not all of them, I shall move on to cajole Ms. Stewart further..... ....No I won't, it's too easy!

It's A Good Thing (OMG, just shoot me now! - I can't believe I said that)

I would not HIGHLY recommend this CD, but it's decent, (as Martha would say: It's a good thing) and if you are looking for a new addition to your collection of Christmas music, this one is a safe bet. It's not the first one I play, but it does normally make it onto my stereo at some point over the holidays. One suggestion, paint a nice little white beard and elf hat on Martha to make it a little easier on the eyes, if not more festive!

Update on July 03, 2009 03:31

LMAO - Ironically enough - I couldn't find this at K-Mart :-))