There is a story in Milestones, Jack Chambers’ biography of Miles Davis, about Davis' record company asking him to record a Christmas song. Miles never liked people telling him what to do, and he asked pianist-composer Bob Dorough for help. Dorough came up with “Blue Xmas,” a cynical, sobering reflection on the greed and commercialism of a time that should be a time of reflection, family and joy. According to Dorough, “you see right through all the waste, all the sham, all the haste and plain old bad taste.”
Few albums are that memorable. Most jazz artists who make Christmas albums and songs have been pressured to do so by their record companies, and it's usually the same 12 songs; they just go through the motions. It does not seem to matter that most of these recordings are schlock—because they sell. At St. Louis Public Radio, I get a lot of Christmas albums that go right into the trash. There are many interesting arrangements and compositions of songs that fit the season that are not knowingly part of holiday albums. As examples, I’m thinking of the Modern Jazz Quartet’s “England’s Carol”; the album Blues on Bach; Jim McNeely’s arrangement of “Silent Night”; Thad Jones’ “A Child Is Born”; and John Coltrane’s “Peace on Earth,” “Joy,” and “My Favorite Things.” These are pieces whose emotion is real, and not manufactured. The musicians are invested in these performances.
A funny thing about jazz musicians: they are always composing songs with the word "peace" in them. My CD collection has 40 different songs with this word in the title. The artists range from Count Basie to Charles Gayle. Of course, all of us say at this time of year that we wish for peace, but it never comes, because too many leaders have a vested interest in remaining at war.
Dennis Owsley has broadcast a weekly jazz show for St. Louis Public Radio (KWMU-FM) continuously since April 1983. Catch "Jazz Unlimited," every Sunday night from 9 p.m. to midnight.
