Various Artists - Jazz To The World (1995)

Fantastic compilation of Christmas tunes from the Blue Note label, benefitting Special Olympics. That fact, along with the Keith Haring artwork, suggests this CD is a (unofficial?) part of the Very Special Christmas series. Many of my favorite smooth jazz/instrumental pop/r&b artists of the time make an appearance.

Entertainment Weekly was dismissive, writing

For John Tesh lovers ready to try something new: Jazz To The World brings together such jazz-lite masters as Anita Baker, Stanley Clarke, and Herbie Hancock for an album only one notch above Muzak. C-

I disagree. If you like these artists and what they bring to the table, this is one of your better - if not safer - bets for a jazzy Christmas mix. Plus it's charity benefit disc ferchrissakes! Press release (via Billboard magazine) can be found here.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: #95
• Billboard Contemporary Jazz: #5
• CashBox Contemporary Jazz: #2

Tracks: Don't skip any - but I've checked off today's favorites.

Song	Artist
Winter Wonderland	Herb Alpert & Jeff Lorber
Baby, It's Cold Outside	Dianne Reeves & Lou Rawls	✔
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear	Fourplay	✔
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas	Diana Krall
O Tannenbaum	Stanley Clarke, George Duke & Everette Harp	✔
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!	Michael Franks
The Christmas Waltz	The Brecker Brothers with Steve Khan	✔
The Little Drummer Boy	Cassandra Wilson
I'll Be Home For Christmas	Herbie Hancock & Eliane Elias	✔
O Come O Come Emmanuel	John McLaughlin
Christmas Blues	Holly Cole	✔
Angels We Have Heard On High	Steps Ahead
The Christmas Song	Anita Baker
What Child Is This?	Chick Corea
Winter Wonderland	Dave Koz	✔
Il est Ne, Le Divin Enfant	Dr. John	✔

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None