(Revised from Break It Down – 12/24/08, 12/22/10, 12/21/11, 12/26/12, 12/25/13, and 12/23/15)
Last night was a long night.
But it was worth every minute. I kicked off the evening by
attending a meeting of the local Board of County Commissioners. There,
the Commissioners feted my friend and former boss, Harry L. Jones, Sr. for his
many years of public service, and a life spend working to ensure that the
communities in which he lived were better places for all citizens, but especially
for "the least of these." He spent 13 years (2000-2013) as
Mecklenburg County's Manager. I humbly salute him, and posit the award
was well-earned. GO Heels, my friend!
The second leg of my evening
was spent watching the visiting Los Angeles Lakers (my lifelong favorite
professional basketball team) take on my home team, Charlotte Hornets.
Most folks who know me well are aware when there Lakers and Hornets play,
I pull for the Hornets. I do live in CLT, after all. But I'm a happy
camper regardless of which team wins. Tonight, the Hornets prevailed, and
I was "In da House!" It was all good. I extend a special
thanks to my good friend Carlos for providing me tickets in the Well Fargo
Suite. It’s a great place to view a game at Spectrum Arena.
Finally, it was Tuesday night,
so despite having a full evening, it was Blog Night; I had work to do.
It's Christmas Time in the City. I hope you enjoy the
blog/e-concert.
Merry Christmas
to you! I know some of you are caught up in the whole “We
Are The (Secular) World” trip; thus you substitute Holiday
for Christmas in seasonal greetings. But that really shouldn't be a problem
since Donald Trump has brought Christmas back. However, a quick check
back over the Obama years reveals...Christmas never went anywhere, anyway
(http://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/-merry-christmas-never-left-the-white-house-824078915806).
Of course, those innately curious enough to conduct the requisite etymological research know that the root
derivation of holiday is “Holy Day;” but I digress;
that is fodder for another day.
By now, many of you have
already begun your well planned and no doubt, richly deserved hiatus
from work. Perhaps you have finished your shopping and taken care of all the
major errands that accompany preparing for the Big Day. Maybe all that remains is packing and/or
traveling; or that throw-down cooking marathon that precedes the arrival of
family, friends, and guests, whom you will host over the coming week.
As is my custom, I will not
use this Christmas Season Post, if you will allow me to call it that, to challenge you to sort
through the facts, be they esoteric or mundane. Not the election, or the
economy, no wars, and absolutely no (further) references to Steve Harvey and/or
the Philippines, Colombia, or the Miss Universe Pageant. No, this is your time
to take advantage of the opportunity to hang out with your guests, or to be a
guest, and enjoy the hospitality of friends and family.
In the true spirit of keeping
it simple for both you and me, I am, as the title suggests, reprising a
previous post, or in this case, posts. In fact, not just any
previous posts…not even just any prior Christmas Posts.
I am, essentially re-posting my entry from several Christmas’ past, with a notable caveat. In my eight preceding Christmas
Season posts, I have now presented an e-Christmas Concert on
six occasions. This year, I am pressing the reset button on the Concert.
Instead of providing 12 standards, am I providing 24, 12 by female
artists, and 12 by male artists. Bonus: Most are different songs/artists
than those presented last year. Today anyway, more is better.
The English
playwright and poet, William
Congreve, in the opening line of his 1697 Play
entitled “The Mourning Bride,” asserted, “Music has Charms to soothe a savage Breast, To soften rocks, or
bend a knotted Oak.” I think Congreve
was on to something. If indeed music is capable of enabling us to overcome our basest
instincts, and in so doing, ennoble us to pursue our finer impulses, and then
indeed, we should take more opportunities to render ourselves captivated by its
magical spell. (By the way, it really is breast…not beast; caught you thinking,
didn’t I?)
So, I identified and pulled
together an assortment of my favorite Christmas Standards by
several of my favorite artists. This year, I am offering a new variation of the
artistic olio I pulled together for your reading, viewing, and listening
pleasure a number of years ago. Below, you will find a hot link to a YouTube
video interpretation and two songs for each of the 12 Days of Christmas listed and included in today's Yuletide e-concert.
Female
Artists
1 Eartha Kitt is known for having had many talents skills, and
2 abilities, among them acting and singing. last year I
substituted her most popular Christmas song for "Nothing for
Christmas." After a 1-year hiatus, I'm bringing back Santa Baby.
As I've noted before, the song was born in 1953, just like me. She
slays (or if you're really in the Christmas spirit -- sleighs) it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFMyF9fDKzE
3 Dianne Reeves is a Grammy-winning jazz artist who sings in the
vein of Dinah Washington and Carmen McRae; a skilled lyricist and scat singer.
She presents "Christmas Time is Here" as if it's her own.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hInJstw1cGE
4 Vanessa Williams was the first black Miss America. She had
a short and tumultuous reign. But cream rises to the top, and her talent
ensured that losing her title was but a mere speed bump in a star-studded road.
Her rendition of "Do You See What I See" provides a glimpse of
her musical flexibility and
skill. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duiBDjMg1xA
5 Lena Horne was a jazz musician whose career spanned over 70
years. She was also an actress, dancer, and civil rights activist.
She demonstrates her vocal caliber in this version of "Let It Snow!
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duiBDjMg1xA
6 Cassandra Wilson was born December 4, 1955. Her birthdate
alone ensured that I included her on this list; '06! But that's not the
only reason she made the cut. Her range includes blues, country, and folk
music, as well as jazz. Moreover, she stuck the proverbial landing in her
rendition of "The Little Drummer Boy."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctWLMGajOLs
7 Toni Braxton is a lot of things: a talented songwriter, singer,
pianist, record producer, actress, television personality, and philanthropist.
She is known to be sexy, sultry, and an unpredictable reality show star.
She's still best known for her music though, and her version of
"Santa Please" will do absolutely nothing to change that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nFWiF_E_VQ
8 The Emotions are one of those classic Old School Girl Groups
born in the 70's. Influenced greatly by Maurice White of Earth Wind &
Fire Fame, they continue to perform today. One of my favorite tunes by
them is their version of "What Do The Lonely Do At Christmas?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=172MUncGhj8
9 Anita Baker released her first solo album in 1983. In
1986, she release "Rapture" and it was the dawn of her stardom.
She is known for her trademark "husky" voice, and she is at her
Christmas best in this version of "The Christmas Song." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHze40h13mc
10
Diana Ross and the Supremes
were the "It" Group of Motown when Motown was the "It' place of
Soul Music. The Supremes are America's most successful vocal group with
12 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Here they are with their 1965
rendition of "Silver Bells."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGTkxPmJicc
11
Ella Fitzgerald is jazz
royalty. Frequently referred to as the First Lady of Song, the Queen of
Jazz, and Lady Ella, she was widely acclaimed for her purity of tone,
impeccable diction, phrasing, and intonation, as well as a horn-like
improvisational ability. Virtually all scat singing is measured against
her. Check out her version of "Sleigh Ride."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0Fd-MZHrdo
12
Whitney Houston had a voice
known worldwide. Her recordings accounted for nearly 200 million records
sold. Her's was a clarion voice of our times. This version of
"Joy To The World," taken from the movie, "The Preacher's
Wife," is special, as was she. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYPpyTyPf6I
13
Ledisi (Anibade Young) is an
R&B and jazz recording artist. Her first name means "to bring
forth" or "to come here" in Yoruba. She was aptly named.
Enjoy her rendering of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas."
Male
Artists
1 James Brown was renowned for his energetic performances, which earned him
another of his many titles, “Hardest working man in show business.” His rendition of "Merry Christmas Baby" is not so
uptempo, but still a reminder that he had earned his chops the hard way,
and that he was much more than just flash and
dash. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xg6FcaYHf4
2 Donny Hathaway was a multifaceted soulful crooner and a product
of Howard University who excelled in jazz, blues, soul and gospel music; an
Alpha Man. He suffered from depression and died of suicide January 13,
1979 at 33 years old. He rendered this marvelous recording of "This
Christmas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkqjjYP53vQ
3 The O'Jays were formed in 1965, and have been a staple in Soul
and R&B music ever since. They knock it out of the park with this
version of "Christmas Just Ain't Christmas Anymore."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc4g1wsIA9g
4 The Temptations were a significant part of what made Motown,
Motown, in the 60's and 70's. Their rendition of Silent Night lives on as
a classic among classics as far as Christmas music goes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFc7STuQF0U
5 Al Green, soul singer, turned minister, soul singer-minister was
at his most popular during the 70's. He puts his considerable talents to
good use in this version of "I'll be Home for Christmas."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY44SNUuT2U
6 El DeBarge was the central figure in the group known as DeBarge,
which reached it's zenith in the 80's. El was one of several members of
the group who went on to fashion solo careers. He nails this version of
"Christmas Without You." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_xB6VD7fS8
7 Will Downing has been recording albums since 1988. Ive
seen him in concerts twice, including a couple of weeks ago, and I own most of
his recorded music. He simply does not disappoint. This recording
of The First Noel is no exception. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOQWKBIuk-I
8 Joe (Lewis Thomas) released his debut album in 1993. He
has maintained a presence on the music scene ever since. His nuanced
presentation of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" is just another fine
example of his limitless talent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vbpsVILCvU
9 Jerry Butler, popularly known as the Ice Man, fitting for an Alpha,
is a singer, songwriter, and musician (guitar, electric guitar, bass, piano,
saxophone, and drums) who was the lead singer for the Impressions before going
on to a solo career. He recored this classic version of O Holy Night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0dR1Dk7Bu0
10
Luther Vandross was a musical
icon. Period. End of story. He is one of my favorite musicians, and his
treatment of "My Favorite Things" is certainly among my favorite
Christmas songs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6TRlV6MOOU
11
The Whispers hail from LA, and
have been around since the 60's. They became members of the Vocal Group
Hall of Fame in 2003...for good reason. They got it like that. And
they prove it with this version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbJ95aWUc_A
12
Kem (Owens) is an R&B/Soul
singer who has made his uniquely fashioned mark on the music scene since 1999.
He enlists Ledisi (Anibade Young), another single named musical star to
create a fabulous rendition of "Be Mine For Christmas." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_8rVJ_ENaY
That’s it, 24 artists
and videos and/or songs. Add it all up and you get “12 Days Of Christmas: The e-Concert –2016 Edition!” Enjoy it throughout the
Season, and by all means, remember the Reason for the Season!
I’m done; holla back!
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