Swing into the holiday spirit with BIG BAND HOLIDAYS II, the sequel to the critically acclaimed 2015 release from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.
Featuring original arrangements of holiday classics selected from Big Band Holiday concerts spanning from 2015 to 2018, nine-time GRAMMY Award winner and Pulitzer Prize winner Wynton Marsalis and the JLCO are joined by an all-star assortment of guest vocalists, including Veronica Swift, Denzal Sinclaire, Catherine Russell, Audrey Shakir, and the Queen of Soul herself, Aretha Franklin.
Franklin’s stirring solo piano rendition of “O Tannenbaum,” a surprise performance during the 2015 edition of Big Band Holidays, has never before been released.
Other standout tracks include Veronica Swift’s vibrant recording of the classic “(Everybody’s Waitin’ For) The Man with the Bag” and Denzal Sinclaire’s jazzed-up version of “We Three Kings.” An instant classic that captures the magic of an annual NYC holiday tradition, BIG BAND HOLIDAYS II serves up timeless nostalgia just in time for the most wonderful time of the year.
1. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Written by Edward Pola & George Wyle
Arranged by Wynton Marsalis
Soloists: Wynton Marsalis (trumpet), Victor Goines (clarinet), Chris Crenshaw (trombone), Dan Nimmer (piano), Ted Nash (flute)
2. Cool Yule (ft. Catherine Russell)
Written by Steve Allen
Arranged by Sherman Irby
Soloists: Walter Blanding (tenor saxophone), Sherman Irby (alto saxophone)
3. We Three Kings (ft. Denzal Sinclaire)
Written by John Henry Hopkins, Jr.
Arranged by Carlos Henriquez
Soloists: Dan Nimmer (piano), Paul Nedzela (baritone saxophone)
4. O Tannenbaum (ft.Aretha Franklin)
Written by Ernst Anschütz
5. Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow
Arranged by Ted Nash
Soloist: Marcus Printup (trumpet)
6. (Everybody’s Waitin’ for) The Man with the Bag (ft. Veronica Swift)
Written by Harold Stanley, Irving Taylor & Dudley Brooks
Arranged by Walter Blanding
Soloists: Veronica Swift (vocals), Vincent Gardner (trombone)
7. What Will Santa Claus Say? (When He Finds Everybody Swingin’) (ft. Catherine Russell)
Written by Louis Prima
Arranged by Chris Crenshaw
Soloists: Paul Nedzela (baritone saxophone), Ali Jackson (drums)
8. Brazilian Sleigh Bells
Written by Percy Faith
Arranged by Carlos Henriquez
Soloists: Wynton Marsalis (trumpet), Bruce Harris (trumpet), Sherman Irby (alto saxophone)
9. Silver Bells (ft. Catherine Russell)
Written by Ray Evans & Jay Livingston
Arranged by Ali Jackson
Soloists: Vincent Gardner (trombone), Ted Nash (flute), Dan Nimmer (piano)
10. Snowfall
Written by Claude Thornhill
Arranged by Sherman Irby
Soloist: Wynton Marsalis (trumpet)
11. Silent Night (ft. Denzal Sinclaire)
Written by Franz Gruber & Joseph Mohr
Arranged by Victor Goines
Soloists: James Chirillo (guitar), Kenny Rampton (trumpet)
THE JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON MARSALIS
REEDS
Sherman Irby – alto and soprano saxophones, clarinet, flute; music director (2015-2016)
Ted Nash – alto and soprano saxophones, clarinet, flute
Victor Goines – music director (2018); tenor and soprano saxophones, clarinet
Walter Blanding (2015–2017) – tenor saxophone, clarinet, shaker
Paul Nedzela – baritone and soprano saxophones, bass clarinet
*Camille Thurman (2018) – tenor and soprano saxophones
TRUMPETS
Marcus Printup
Kenny Rampton
Wynton Marsalis (music director, 2017/18)
*Ryan Kisor (2015, 2017-2018)
*Greg Gisbert (2016)
*Bruce Harris (2016)
*Tatum Greenblatt (2017)
TROMBONES
Vincent Gardner
Chris Crenshaw
Elliot Mason (2015-2016, 2018)
*Sam Chess (2017)
*Eric Miller (2018)
RHYTHM SECTION
Dan Nimmer – piano
Carlos Henriquez – bass
Ali Jackson (2015-2016) – drums
*Marion Felder (2017) – drums
*Charles Goold (2018) – drums
FEATURED GUESTS
Aretha Franklin – vocals and piano
Audrey Shakir – vocals
Denzal Sinclaire vocals
Catherine Russell – vocals
Veronica Swift – vocals
James Chirillo – guitar
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