Bebop Christmas

Christmas songs have long been viable devices for jazz musicians; the chord changes are easily transferable into Dixieland, swing and bop settings. For this CD, recorded in Copenhagen, four Europeans (pianist Niels Jorgen Steen, guitarist Morten Hojring, bassist Bob Stief and drummer Svend Erik Norregaard) meet up with American expatriate tenor saxophonist Bob Rockwell to perform ten Yuletide favorites. The music is no-nonsense bebop, with the highlights including swinging renditions of "Sleigh Ride," "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," "Winter Wonderland" and "Jingle Bells." Rockwell (who deserves to be much better-known) plays particularly well; the rhythm section is excellent, and there are plenty of great solos from Steen and Hojring. A superior Christmas jazz set that is just as enjoyable in July as it is in December.