<p>My nice Jewish 25 year old daughter has always received a Christmas CD from us as part of her Hanukkah gifts. I started it when she was about 8 or so as she was a dancer and danced in the Nutcracker each year. We started with different version of the Nutcracker and then would get her different Christmas titles. I varied the type of music from Disney Christmas tunes, to Kidz Bop, Country, current pop stars, instrumental, college acapella groups, Glee, etc… After so many years, I have run out of idea as to which CD to buy. I usually look at Costco and Target, but have ordered from Amazon and back in the olden days purchased from actual music stores, which are now a dying breed! </p>
<p>This year I know she would be interested in a CD that has an old jazz/blues sound, or something updated and modern, or classical; I realize that covers almost all types! Any suggestions? I didn’t want to do a one artist CD, but if I did, I was thinking about James Taylor’s CD as she likes him. I don’t mind buying a couple of CDs, but would love to find one perfect one! It is funny that this is something she looks forward to every year and she was disappointed the first year in college when I didn’t send her one. </p>
<p>Ok CC friends, do your magic and come up with the greatest Christmas CD!</p>
<p>My personal favorite is anything by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I used to have a really nice Elvis Presley one that sounded bluesy but I wouldn’t be able to tell you the name of it for the life of me.</p>
<p>Other than that, I just listen to the radio so I’m not much help.</p>
<p>My all time favorite Christmas CD is Peabo Bryson’s Peace on Earth. I believe it is out of circulation, however. I thought I had lost it a few months ago and found a few copies but the new ones were going for almost $50.00. It’s the only one I can listen to over and over again.</p>
<p>Mahalia Jackson made a phenomenal Christmas album many years ago, which has been issued on CD. It’s more gospel in flavor than jazz, though. Sting put out an album called “If On a Winter’s Night,” of Old English seasonal and holiday songs. My 21 year old daughter loves that one. (She plays it all year round.) I also like Emmy Lou Harris’s Christmas album. She has the voice of an angel.</p>
<p>Just to throw another religion in there, I love the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas CD’s. They would be more classical versions, especially any involving the Messiah recordings.</p>
<p>I also like the Time-Life Treasury of Christmas CD set, the original. You can buy them on Amazon.</p>
<p>I love Billy Idol’s Happy Holidays album but it looks like according to Amazon it is out of print ! I would say my number 2 is The Ultimate Christmas Album 1 - which has all of the 50’-60’s holiday classics.</p>
<p>They were playing selections from Rod Stewart’s new Christmas album on Soundcheck today. </p>
<p>Honestly about the only Christmas music I like is either foreign so not so over familiar, or The Messiah, which I love in many different versions, though my favorite has countertenors instead of women.</p>
<p>Jazz recommendations: Ella Fitzgerald’s Christmas, A Dave Brubeck Christmas, NPR Jazz Christmas with Marian McPartland, and Have Yourself a Jazzy Little Christmas (different artists–Oscar Peterson, Ella, Dinah Washington, etc.)</p>
<p>‘Beautiful Star of Bethlehem’ is wonderful. I had never heard it before and I find it a unique song. The rendition of ‘O Holy Night’ is perfect to me - hits the high notes just right.</p>
<p>Certainly not a Jazz CD, but I just bought a Reggae Christmas by Studio One. This is the famous studio in Jamaica and has various artists. I wanted a really different sound this year, it’s got good vocals and sound. I bought it on Amazon.</p>
<p>It’s a mix of traditional Christmas favorites with a gospel twist plus music you would hear in a black church. If you live in Seattle, the performance is get-on-your-feet, hand-clapping amazingness.</p>
<p>I ran into a Youtube live stream yesterday of Lady Antebellum doing a Christmas concert. Of course, they were really good, and of course they have a Christmas album.
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