Making Spirits Bright

by MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT: A SMOOTH

Overview

A host of contemporary jazz stars fills this excellent compilation of traditional holiday music with smooth jazz inflections; jazzy vocals; and dashes of funk, R&B, and world music. Making Spirits Bright features such stellar jazz artists as Lee Ritenour opening with a beautiful smooth jazz version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," Diana Krall singing a swinging version of "Jingle Bells," and Gerald Albright out front on saxophone playing a funky but melodic version of "This Christmas." Marc Antoine's guitar is reflective and speaks softly on "What Child Is This?" Dave Grusin's lively "Suite de Nuestra Navidad" closes the program, adding a diverse mix to the music with its happy, lively, Latin flavors. His piano softly underscores a beautiful flute solo and lends the perfect spirit of the holidays -- peace, love, and goodwill. Making Spirits Bright is highly listenable and even more enjoyable because of its up-to-date 21st century versions of some of the world's favorite holiday music. ~ Paula Edelstein

Product Details

Release Date:	10/02/2001
Label:	Grp / Uptown/Universal
UPC:	0731454983921
Rank:	191442

Tracks

1. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas  - Ralph Blane  - Hugh Martin  - Lee Ritenour
2. I'll Be Home for Christmas  - Will Downing  - Kim Gannon  - Walter Kent  - Buck Ram
3. The Christmas Song  - Joyce Cooling  - Mel Torme  - Robert Wells
4. This Christmas  - Gerald Albright  - Donny Hathaway  - Nadine McKinnor
5. Silent Night  - Franz Gruber  - Al Jarreau  - Joseph Mohr
6. What Child It This?  - Marc Antoine  -  Traditional
7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen  -  Traditional  - Richard Elliot
8. Jingle Bells  - Diana Krall  - James Pierpont  -  Traditional
9. The First Noel  - David Benoit  - William Sandys  -  Traditional
10. Here Comes Santa Claus  - Gene Autry  - Jeff Golub  - Oakley Haldeman
11. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus  - Tommie Connor  - Joe Sample
12. Suite de "Nuestra Navidad": la Anunciacion/La Peregrinacion  - Dave Grusin  - Ariel Ramirez

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Richard Elliot   Primary Artist,Sax (Tenor)
Gerald Albright   Primary Artist,Bass,Sax (Alto),Sax (Soprano)
Dave Grusin   Primary Artist,Piano
Joe Sample   Primary Artist,Piano
Joyce Cooling   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Al Jarreau   Primary Artist,Vocals
Mark Antoine   Primary Artist
Jeff Golub   Primary Artist,Guitar
Lee Ritenour   Primary Artist,Guitar,Strings,Keyboards,Piano (Electric),Synthesizer Bass,Guitar (Acoustic)
Diana Krall   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Marc Antoine   Primary Artist,Guitar
David Benoit   Primary Artist,Piano
Will Downing   Primary Artist,Vocals
Tony Maiden   Guitar
Charlie Bisharat   Violin
John Beasley   Piano,Keyboards
Bruce Dukov   Violin
Jeff Lorber   Keyboards
Alex Acuna   Drums
Tim Welvaars   Harmonica
Karie Prescott   Viola
Jochem van der Saag   Drums,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
John Pena   Bass
Walfredo Reyes   Percussion
Melvin Davis   Bass
Ramon Stagnaro   Guitar
Dan Higgins   Flute
Alan Pasqua   Strings,Fender Rhodes,Piano (Electric),Synthesizer Bass

Technical Credits

Brian Baker   Engineer
David Benoit   Arranger
Ralph Blane   Composer
Dave Grusin   Arranger
Walter Kent   Composer
Don Murray   Mixing,Engineer
Joe Sample   Arranger
John Beasley   Arranger
Traditional   Composer
Paul Mitchell   Mixing,Engineer
Steve Dubin   Arranger,Engineer,Producer,Drum Programming
Hugh Martin   Composer
Kim Gannon   Composer
Gene Autry   Composer
Donny Hathaway   Composer
Jeff Lorber   Arranger
Doug Sax   Mastering
Oakley Haldeman   Composer
Al Schmitt   Mixing,Engineer
Bud Harner   Producer
Robert Wells   Composer
Mark Wexler   Executive Producer
Robert Silverberg   Release Coordinator
William Sandys   Composer
Hollis King   Art Direction
George Stamatakis   Production Coordination
Jochem van der Saag   Arranger,Engineer,Programming,Sound Design
Suzanne Smith   Production Coordination
Lexy Shroyer   Production Coordination
Eugene Autry   Composer
Johnny Mandel   Producer
Franz Gruber   Composer
James Pierpont   Composer
Joseph Mohr   Composer
Lee Ritenour   Arranger,Engineer
Robert Vosgien   Mastering
Nadine McKinnor   Composer
Mel Torme   Composer
Tommy LiPuma   Producer
Buck Ram   Composer
Ariel Ramirez   Composer
Tommie Connor   Composer