Various
Christmas for Lovers
(Verve)
Verve has released many Christmas compilations with hardly any repetition. This one, included in the label’s “for Lovers” series, is no exception. Along with heart-warming classics by Mel Torme and Ella Fitzgerald, there are some great, lesser-known recordings from guitarist Kenny Burrell, singer Billy Eckstine and the indisputable king of sax Gerry Mulligan. Except for Antonio Carlos Jobim’s vocal attempt—good guitarists ain’t always good singers—this is a “can’t go wrong” disc.
—Dave Hayden
This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.