Christmas '64 Explained

Christmas '64
Type:	studio
Artist:	Jimmy Smith
Cover:	Jimmy Smith Christmas 64.jpeg
Released:	1964
Recorded:	April 20 & September 29, 1964
Studio:	Van Gelder Studio, Englewwod Cliffs, NJ
Genre:	Jazz, Christmas
Length:	48:51
Label:	Verve
Producer:	Creed Taylor
Prev Title:	Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Prev Year:	1964
Next Title:	Monster
Next Year:	1965

Christmas '64 is a 1964 studio album by the American jazz organist Jimmy Smith. Smith's only album of Christmas music, it was reissued as Christmas Cookin' in 1966.^[1]

Reception

A review on AllMusic said that "Compared to most Christmas albums, this is plenty groovy, with lots of Smith's trademark dexterity and bop runs on offer."^[1] An AllMusic review of the reissued Christmas Cookin, by Scott Yanow said that "...even if nothing all that unusual occurs, the performances can serve as high-quality background music during the Christmas season".^[2]

Track listing

1. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (Traditional) – 4:19
2. "Jingle Bells" (James Pierpont) – 3:15
3. "We Three Kings of Orient Are" (John Henry Hopkins Jr.) – 3:45
4. "The Christmas Song" (Mel Tormé, Bob Wells) – 4:32
5. "White Christmas" (Irving Berlin) – 2:51
6. "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie) – 5:26
7. "Silent Night" (Franz Gruber, Josef Mohr) – 4:04
8. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" – 6:11

Bonus tracks on Christmas Cookin 1992 CD reissue

9. "Baby, It's Cold Outside" (Frank Loesser) – 6:00
   • from
10. "Greensleeves" (Traditional) – 8:53
    • from Organ Grinder Swing

Personnel

Musicians

• Jimmy Smith – organ, (all tracks), arranger, (tracks 2, 6, 8)
• Kenny Burrell – guitar, (tracks 1, 3-5, 7)
• Quentin Warren – guitar, (tracks 2, 6, 8)
• Art Davis – double bass, (tracks 1, 3-5, 7)
• Grady Tate – drums, (tracks 1, 3-5, 7)
• Billy Hart – drums, (tracks 2, 6, 8)
• Margaret Ross – harp, (tracks 1, 3-5, 7)
• Joe Newman – flugelhorn, (tracks 1, 3-5, 7)
• Paul Faulise, Tommy Mitchell – bass trombone, (tracks 1, 3-5, 7)
• Chauncey Welsch, Jimmy Cleveland – trombone, (tracks 1, 3-5, 7)
• Ernie Royal, Danny Stiles, Joe Wilder, Bernie Glow – trumpet, (tracks 1, 3-5, 7)
• Jim Buffington, Earl Chapin, Donald Corrado, Morris Secon – french horn, (tracks 1, 3-5, 7)
• Harvey Phillips – tuba, (tracks 1, 3-5, 7)
• George Devens – percussion, (tracks 1, 3-5, 7)
• Billy Byers - arranger, conductor, (tracks 1, 4--5, 7)
• Al Cohn - arranger, (track 3)

Technical

• Creed Taylor – producer
• Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
• Val Valentin – director of engineering
• Bob Irwin – mastering
• Hollis King – art direction
• Sherniece Smith – art producer
• Acy Lehman – cover design
• Howell Conent – photography

Notes and References

1. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=christmas-64-mw0000178301|pure_url=yes}} Christmas '64]. Allmusic. March 23, 2015.
2. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=christmas-cookin-mw0000088414|pure_url=yes}} Christmas Cookin']. Allmusic. March 23, 2015.