With 'Santa Swings……The Windup', the German Bear Family label launches a very special Christmas CD. 'The Windup' refers to the time when one still had to wind a record player, or rather gramophone, with a handle and 78 rpm records had to be played with a steel needle. It is therefore understandable that the album does not contain any obvious interpretations of Christmas songs, including the sound of the necessary bells. Instead you get 27 tracks from the thirties and forties of the last century by renowned orchestras. Naturally, these songs were released on fragile shellac records. So you can expect stylish swinging jazz, which is also ideal for doing some dance moves. Well-known names that come into the spotlight on this album include Glenn Miller, Paul Whiteman, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Chick Webb and Stuff Smith. Among these well-known and lesser-known orchestras we also find The Ramblers, from the Netherlands, who, together with the Belgian singer Marcel Thielemans, recorded an orchestral arrangement of 'Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!' There is also a wonderful track with 'And The Angels Sing' by Count Basie's orchestra with that other legend, namely Helen Humes behind the microphone. The same song follows later in the version by Jan Savitt and His Tophatters. Legend Glenn Miller and his orchestra are present with a special version of 'Jingle Bells' that he recorded on December 24, 1941, one day before Christmas, for the legendary radio, Chesterfield Broadcast. Ella Logan's version sounds even more special, but also extremely original, as 'Jingle (Bingle) Bells'. Ella Fitzgerald can shine together with Chick Webb's orchestra on 'There's Frost On The Moon', a song from 1937. A swinging instrumental is undoubtedly 'Freeze And Melt' by Joe Turner and His Memphis Men, a pseudonym for Duke Ellington and his orchestra for the recordings at Columbia Records. You don't hear Big Joe Turner on this recording. He was already active as a blues shouter.
The album contains both instrumental and sung tracks, but the 'swing' is always present.
Although the recordings date from the thirties and forties, they sound impressively good. In addition, you will receive all information about the tracks in the accompanying booklet. It will not surprise you that many of these tracks appear on CD for the first time. However, if you like vinyl, there is also good news. Bear Family distilled 14 tracks from this CD and released them on red colored vinyl (BAF18074).
Of course you have to have a soft spot for authentic swinging jazz to enjoy this album to the fullest. If you do that, you have a pearl in your hands with 'Santa Swings…The Windup'.

​This album is a loving return to the sounds of the swing jazz big band era. Featuring guest vocals from Maria Muldaur on "Baby It's Cold Outside" and Evan Price's string arrangements on two tracks. The album includes fourteen standards composed by Duke Ellington, Louis Jordan, George Gershwin and Louis Armstrong, among others. All brought to life by the unique voice and character of Taj Mahal.

​The American Jimmy Rushing was highly regarded in the period when big bands were extremely popular. He can certainly be counted among the greatest blues and swing jazz singers of his time. He gained his greatest fame as a vocalist with Count Basie. He was a member of his band from 1935 to 1948. Most of the attention on this collector therefore goes to the recordings that Rushing made with Count Basie's orchestra. You get 20 tracks, which are supplemented with 2 songs that he recorded with the orchestra of Johnny Otis and that of Jimmy Mundy.
Besides Rushing’s strong musical personality, this album is also an ode to the time when big bands hit the ballrooms.

​“If ain’t got that thing, if it ain’t got that swing” is what fits the debut album of Dennis Van Aarssen, the winner of ‘The Voice of Holland’ in 2019. I want more!

No less than seventeen guest musicians have contributed to this album. His friends guitarist Mike Bake and Howard Birchmore on harmonica, also accompany John during his live performance.
John Cee Stannard & Blues Horizon are also present. Not bad at all..!

​This fifth album from Tom Culver is a must for those who like to swing. Tom’s voice makes me think of Tony Bennett.