# Ring in the season with Esperanza Spalding, Joey Alexander, Wynton Marsalis and more: Photos, Videos, Sounds

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2018/12/03/ring-in-the-season-with-esperanza-spalding-joey-alexander-wynton-marsalis-and-more-photos-videos-sounds/
- Published: 2018-12-03T21:56:42+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**John Legend Featuring Esperanza Spalding, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”**

You’ve probably heard some joyful noise around _A Legendary Christmas, _the new 
album by John Legend. Produced by his fellow soul savant Raphael Saadiq, it’s a 
suave blend of holiday chestnuts old and new.

But perhaps you weren’t aware of Legend’s take on “Have Yourself a Merry Little 
Christmas,” which makes the most of a featured guest appearance by Esperanza Spalding.
Arranged in drifting waltz time with a comforting sheen of strings, it has an unmistakable
jazz inflection — and not just because of a neatly swinging rhythm section. Spalding
harmonizes with her usual flair, especially in the second half of the track.

There’s now a music video for this song, complete with Yuletide carolers, Santa 
hats and a warm holiday table. Just try to get past the moment when a spirited Dickensian
lad starts to pantomime the trombone solo — a Delfeayo Marsalis solo, if I’m not
mistaken — while holding a _trumpet_. ‘Tis the season to let such things, ah, slide.

_A Legendary Christmas _is out now on Columbia.

**Joey Alexander, “O Come All Ye Faithful”**

Pianist Joey Alexander made his first big splash in 2015 with an album called _My
Favorite Things_. It wasn’t framed as a holiday offering, but his new release ­—
_A Joey Alexander Christmas — _most assuredly is. A four-song EP available only 
in digital formats, it includes a newly remastered version of “My Favorite Things,”
from that historic first album. But its centerpiece is a recent studio version of“
O Come All Ye Faithful,” featuring Larry Grenadier on bass and Eric Harland on drums.

Motéma has just released a video from the session, and it’s worth watching for the
smile on Joey’s face as he interacts with his all-star rhythm team, over a laid-
back second line groove.

**Wynton Marsalis Quintet Featuring Oni Marsalis, “Winter Wonderland”**

The holiday season is a time for family, and Wynton Marsalis has a long history 
of celebrating in style. As he did last year around this time, he has released a
new single featuring his daughter Oni on vocals: a chipper version of “Winter Wonderland.”
Marsalis is on trumpet, of course — and at the helm of a small group with Camille
Thurman on tenor saxophone and clarinet, Dan Nimmer on piano, Philip Norris on bass
and TJ Reddick on drums.

“Winter Wonderland,” by Wynton Marsalis Quintet Featuring Oni Marsalis.

**Mars Williams, “Love Cry / Christmas Wrapping”**

Tenor saxophonist Mars Williams is best known for his trailblazing work with Liquid
Soul and The Psychedelic Furs, but he has a serious reputation in the avant-garde,
especially around Chicago. He recently landed on an inspired idea with _An Ayler
Christmas, _which puts Yuletide in touch with the spirit-seeking free-jazz of saxophonist
Albert Ayler. It was so well received that he just released _Vol. 2_.

[[

Here is his mashup of Ayler’s “Love Cry” and a New wave classic called “Christmas
Wrapping.” If the horn fanfare from the latter sounds familiar, it should — Williams
played it himself on [the original recording of the song](https://youtu.be/ZYE7UJSA7k0),
by The Waitresses.

**Alfredo Rodríguez & Pedrito Martinez, “Jingle Bells”**

A pair of irrepressible Cuban virtuosos — pianist Alfredo Rodríguez and percussionist
Pedrito Martinez — have teamed up for this delectable take on “Jingle Bells.” Starting
out in a delicate music-box patter, the song then shifts into rhythmic gear, with
Rodríguez evoking the style of a Cuban timba, over Martinez’s conga pattern. (When
the chorus kicks in, the meter briefly shifts to 14/8.)

It’s an extension of the solo piano arrangement that Rodríguez [posted last year](https://youtu.be/Wf_CGTZlfQE),
to much appreciative feedback. But it’s also a genuine exchange between two modern
aces, and hopefully a portent of things to come.

**Jeff Coffin and Chris Walters, “Santa Digs Me”**

Around this time last year, we were talking about a rush-delivery holiday album 
from saxophonist Jeff Coffin. This season brings another stocking stuffer, more 
modest in scale and more leisurely in style. “Santa Digs Me” is a tune Coffin wrote
with pianist and singer Chris Walters, a transplant from New Orleans to Nashville.

The song has more than a little Big Easy feeling, as Walters recalls the point-of-
view of a wide-eyed young boy, in awe at his good fortune on Christmas morning. “
Of all the babes in Toyland, Kringle singles me out,” he sings, adding: “I’m his
all-time favorite, no doubt.”

![Esperanza Spalding is a featured guest on 'A Legendary Christmas,' the latest 
from John Legend](https://i0.wp.com/mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/wbgo/files/styles/
medium/public/201812/esperanza_xmas_0.png?w=640)

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