LP-745

The Ramsey Lewis Trio - More Sounds of Christmas

Released 1964

Recording and Session Information

Ramsey Lewis, piano; Eldee Young, bass; Redd Holt, drums; John Avant, trombone; Sol Bobrov, David Chausow, Henry Ferber, Irving Kaplan, Mark Konorad, Harold Kupper, Abe Meltzer, Albert Muenzer, Harold Newton, Theodore Ratzer, Everett Zlatoff-Mirsky, strongs; Pete Eagle, harp; King Fleming, Will Jackson, arrangers
Universal Recording Studio, October 14 1964

13476 Snowfall
13477 Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
13478 Snowbound
13479 The twelve days of Christmas
13480 Little drummer boy

Ramsey Lewis, piano; Eldee Young, bass,cello; Cleveland Eaton, bass; Steve McCall, drums
Universal Recording Studio, October 15 1964

13481 We three kings
13482 White Christmas
13483 Egg nog
13484 Jingle bells
13485 Plum puddin'

Track Listing

Snowbound	Russel Faith/Clarence Kehner	October 14 1964
The Twelve Days Of Christmas	Lewis/Edmonds arr	October 14 1964
Egg Nog	Ramsey Lewis	October 15 1964
Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer	John D. Marks	October 14 1964
Jingle Bells	J. Pierpont /arr Young	October 15 1964
Plum Puddin'	Eldee Young	October 15 1964
Snowfall	Claude Thornhill	October 14 1964
We Three Kings	Ramsey Lewis arr	October 15 1964
White Christmas	Irving Berlin	October 15 1964
Little Drummer Boy	Davis/Onorati/Simeone	October 14 1964

Liner Notes

IN THE MOOD of Yuletide, snow flurries, and good tastin'— three kings, (Ramsey Lewis, Eldee Young, and Red Holt) tell it like it is! They make merry music with piano, bass and drums mounted in a sleigh full of strings, and "go, go, go" with the spirit of Christmas and good jazz.

One good thing about this stocking full of goodies — it will outlive the holiday season. "TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS", "JINGLE BELLS", "WE THREE KINGS" et al, Ramsey and company make for year-round good listening.

Two good things about this album are the talented arrangers, King Fleming and Will Jackson. These Chicagoans have combined forces to produce arrangements that compliment the trio's style, and add new lustre to familiar tunes.

Three good things about "More Sounds of Christmas" are Ramsey, Eldee and Red. These young men continually display their unique ability to make any kind of tune their own. They have adapted classical tunes to their style, (BACH TO THE BLUES) bossa nova tunes, (RAMSEY LEWIS TRIO — BOSSA NOVA) and country & western tunes, (COUNTRY MEETS THE BLUES). Whatever the source of the material, the trio makes it a swinger or a lyrical thing of beauty with their personal hallmark.
A fourth good thing is drummer Steve McCall, who filled in for Red Holt (no small feat) on all sides featuring the trio without strings. When Red was unfortunately unable to make the session, Steve was called on short notice. Although he had never played with Ramsey or Eldee before, he performed admirably, and the feeling of swinging togetherness was preserved.

The beautiful "SNOWBOUND" is given a sensitive reading by Ramsey, with the rich string sounds of the Fleming/Jackson arrangement lending fine counterpoint.

Forget all the mediocre arrangements you've heard of "TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS." This one moves! From the "round" beginning with the cello and celeste, it picks up momentum when Ramsey switches to piano for his solo and later fades out wailing.

While we're on the subject of the celeste, how about the hip-swinging, foot-tapping celeste work on "EGG NOG"! Here again Ramsey does his solo work on the piano — and work he does! This egg nog is a potent brew reserved for serving to the "cool ones."

And how about Eldee Young's rollicking version of "JINGLE BELLS"! No "one horse open sleigh" for him; his cello is rocket propelled and soon gets into orbit with Eldee humming along. Eldee's cello outings on the trio's albums have been consistent favorites with the fans, and "BELLS" will be swinging on many turntables.

"SNOWFALL" is strictly for lovers, embraces. fireplaces, and if you're in the mood...some slow dances. "LITTLE BOY" grows up under the fast, skilled hands of Red Holt; and "PLUM PUDDIN'" has obviously been soaked with a heady brandy, or maybe more likely, some corn "likker." It has that down-home Christmas feeling.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, and thanks, Trio! Rest your ears on this beauty! is no "Ho, Ho, Ho" here...it's all "Yeah, baby!

Louise D. Stone
Jazz Columnist
Chicago Daily Defender