LP-687X

Ramsey Lewis Trio - Sound of Christmas

Released 1961

Recording and Session Information

Ramsey Lewis, piano; Eldee Young, bass; Redd Holt, drums
Chicago, 1960

10513 Santa Claus is coming to town
10514 Winter wonderland
10515 Hey Mr. Ray (unissued)
10516 Teardrops from my eyes (unissued)

Chicago, October 1961
11248 Christmas blues
11249 Merry Christmas
11250 Here comes Santa Claus

Addtional 10 unknown strings added, Riley Hampton, arranger

11251 What are you doing New Year's Eve?
11252 The sound of Christmas
11253 God rest ye merry gentlemen
11254 Sleigh ride
11255 The Christmas song

Track Listing

Merry Christmas Baby	Charles Brown	October 1961
Winter Wonderland	Smith, Bernard	October 1961
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town	Gillespie, Coots	October 1961
Christmas Blues	Ramsey Lewis	October 1961
Here Comes Santa Claus	Autry, Aldeman	October 1961
The Sound Of Christmas	Lewis, Hampton	October 1961
The Christmas Song	Torme, Wells	October 1961
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen	Arranged By – Ramsey Lewis	October 1961
Sleigh Ride	Anderson, Parish	October 1961
What Are You Doing New Year's Eve	Frank Loesser	October 1961

Liner Notes

MERRY Christmas to everyone and especially jazz lovers, but more especially to Ramsey Lewis Trio lovers.

Ramsev and his piano, along with Eldee Young on bass and Red Holt on drums, have put together some of the greatest Christmas sounds ever waxed in the jazz vernacular. And the best part of this album is that it won't go out with the season, because the sounds on many of the cuts such as Christmas Blues and The Sound of Christmas, which by the way are originals, are good jazz 365 days a year.

On Side l, you will hear typical Ramsey Lewis piano. (I would imagine the piano had to be tuned after each track)! They start off with Merry Christmas Baby, with a beautifully melodic introduction, and Ramsey's strong touch taking over as it progresses. Winter Wonderland and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town are two numbers that the trio have done before, and Here Comes Santa Claus swings in the same light cheerful style. Christmas Blues, however, is something else. This tune, along with The Sound Of Christmas, stands out in my mind as the two best pieces of work in the album.

Having already jumped to Side 2, I would like to mention that if Mel Torme and Leroy Anderson, who wrote The Christmas Song and Sleigh Ride, in that order, were to hear the performances of their labors as done by Ramsey, Eldee and Red, they would have to admit "Like it ain't never been done like this before". I hope Mr. Torme and Mr. Anderson will excuse the paraphrasing, but I just can't find better words to describe the interpretation given these two cuts.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, one of the most beautiful Christmas carols ever written, will satisfy the "Carol Singers" as well as the "Hippys". And closing out the album is one of my all-time favorites, What Are You Doing New Year's Eve. I don't mind saying it absolutely "flipped" me.

This album marks the first time the trio has recorded with strings. Side one features the trio only, but on Side two, they are accompanied by a beautiful string section, conducted by Riley Hampton. After you've listened to this side, I'm sure you will agree that the trio should continue to utilize strings in the future in at least a portion of each album.

While you're listening to The Ramsey Lewis Trio's SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS, please keep in mind that all of us wish all of you a very Merry, Swingin' Christmas.

Nelson Noble