Jazz and Christmas carols are not natural partners, but the combination has produced a smattering of genuinely classic albums, and year after year more seasonal jazz is released.
Artists to have put out Christmas collections this year include saxophonist Dave Koz ( The 25th of December), singer Maysa ( A Very Maysa Christmas), organist Joey DeFrancesco ( Home for the Holidays) and bluesman Taj Mahal with The Blind Boys of Alabama ( Talkin' Christmas).
Joining their number is Singaporean pianist, organist and composer Jeremy Monteiro, who has a long tradition of performing Christmas concerts at The Esplanade in Singapore, and who was in Hong Kong recently to play the opening party for Operation Santa Claus, but who has not previously recorded a festive album.
It has been a good year for Monteiro. He made his debut on the Verve label with Jazz-Blues Brothers, a collaboration with Italian organist Alberto Marsico, and played Ronnie Scott's Club and the Queen Elizabeth Hall as part of the bill for the EFG London Jazz Festival, garnering enthusiastic reviews.
Helping him out are bassist Christy Smith, drummer Shawn Kelley, saxophonist Tony Lakatos, trumpeter Axel Schlosser, guitarist Wesley Gehring, harmonica player Jens Bunge, vocalist Rani Singam and the Sunshine Gospel Choir, conducted by Alex Negro.
The album's big production number is Monteiro's original, Let's Keep Christmas in Our Hearts, the album's only vocal, performed by Singam. It also features a fine harmonica solo, very much in Stevie Wonder's style, from Bunge, and a rousing finale featuring Marsico's organ and the choir.