The Gift of Song

Someone, who shall remain nameless, made us a priceless gift one year of a spiral bound book titled, Celebrate With Song. In it, were 50+ pages of Christmas carol lyrics. She spent hours poring over lyrics online to create a book of favorites for us. Each season, the kids initiate a session of singing through that book, a capella usually. It was a very thoughtful, useful and touching handmade gift that has kept on giving.

My favorite Christmas songs are the ones that tell the story of the first Christmas and are obscure enough to not have been overplayed and become cliche. I was able to find a few, like Ding Dong Merrily on High, and I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In, to put on the green cassette in the sidebar. Have you figured out how to turn that on? (Click the > icon. You can advance it >> and pause it too, as you wish.)

Other favorites are The Little Drummer Boy and The Friendly Beasts for the same reason. They not only bring the nativity story to my mind but also dramatize it for children. I never tire of watching this version of The Little Drummer Boy video, which would explain why our VHS literally wore out.




Music is the language of our souls. With it we express things that won't come out any other way. "It is not necessary that you understand," as the magi tells heartbroken little Aaron.

Another New York City memory indelibly marked on my mind is the Messiah Sing-In we attended at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center. I have looked and looked for one in every city since to no avail. An usher handed us the entire score of Handel's music as we took our seats. Then, with the utmost respect and expectation of excellence, the conductor directed the audience of paying patrons to sing that magnum opus with a full orchestra and professional soloists. It was incredible and remains one of the ways I picture heaven: unceasing praise and worship with choirs of angels.

God inhabits the praises of His people. If you want to feel His presence, praise Him and He'll take up residence.

On the turntable...

After years of culling through album bins, CD collections and hard drives... here is one must-have for your Christmas collection.

HAVE YOURSELF A JAZZY LITTLE CHRISTMAS. (verve)

I went through a jazz phase years ago and one of the lessons I learned during that time is that ANY recording put out on the Verve label is solid. This is no exception to that rule.

Another truism is that most holiday music is smaltzy, derivative... unrefined. This group of recordings is the opposite of that, it's fun and builds on the classic feel of the tunes. Jimmy Smith on the Hammond organ doing Jingle Bells... Billie Holiday... Ella... they are the heavyweights of jazz.

These songs remind me of an event Andy and I went to when we lived in NYC, the Jazz Nativity. Jazz musicians (and tap dancers) would come forward and give baby Jesus their gifts (sax solos, etc). If you can't get yourself to NYC for the Jazz Nativity, get this instead.
To purchase.
Info. Verve. (listen to the entire CD here)
Buy. Amazon. itunes.

Christmas is about something new, something wild... something other-worldly. The Jazz Nativity event was that for me. The truth is that I'd point you to that event above suggesting you buy this disc but I'm guessing that's unrealistic.

I remember sitting in the pews of St. Bart's on Park Avenue... a cavernous space... watching a tap dancer's shadow shrink from 100 feet tall to 6 feet tall as he tapped down the aisle on his way to present his gift to the Christ child. It all came together for me. We each have gifts as unique as our fingerprints. They are ours to give away.

This set of recordings is the next best thing to Jazz Nativity.