| | Chris Bennett When I Think Of Christmas CD Chris Bennett Discography of CDs
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Chris Bennett has never pretended to be someone who sticks to straight-ahead jazz 100 percent of the time; she sings jazz, but she also performs a lot of pop -- and for Bennett, pop can mean either adult contemporary or traditional pop of the pre-rock variety. Some jazz enthusiasts wish she would record straight-ahead jazz exclusively, but in fact, Bennett is appealing in both jazz and non-jazz settings. When I Think of Christmas is the Los Angeles resident's first Christmas album, and once you get past the Christmas-oriented lyrics, it is fairly typical of her musical outlook -- one that is relevant to jazz as well as pop. Bennett's more jazz-oriented side asserts itself on the familiar "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," Claude Thornhill's '40s classic "Snowfall" (which receives a bossa nova treatment), and a surprisingly bluesy arrangement of "Do You Hear What I Hear," which alludes to Miles Davis' "All Blues." But there's no getting around the fact that much of the album is straight-up pop, which could be anything from a '40s-like performance of Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" to the adult contemporary approach she favors on the sentimental "It Wouldn't Be Christmas" (a Bennett original). If Bennett feels the need to divide her time between jazz and pop, there is no reason why she shouldn't -- as long as she does so tastefully, that is. And even though a few of the tracks are a little too schmaltzy for their own good, When I Think of Christmas is tasteful more often than not and paints a generally likable, if imperfect, picture of Bennett's jazz and non-jazz talents. ~ Alex Henderson Grammy-nominated jazz singer/songwriter Chris Bennett has released her long-awaited Christmas CD - "When I Think Of Christmas". Here's what Carol Swanson of Christmasreviews has to say about the new CD. No doubt about it - Chris Bennett is an incredible talent. She has the husky-but-angelic voice that could pump a dynamic heart into any song; in addition, she plays the piano and is a terrific songwriter. Bennett is a true artist and her art form is Jazz. Bennett's sexy-but-sweet allure is apparent throughout "When I Think of Christmas". Even the cover graphic demonstrates mixed imagery; it features the artist wearing the most innocent smile, a jolly Santa cap, and possibly nothing else (at least, that's the suggestion). The CD also reflects innocence in spots ("One Small Voice" and "Santa Claus Forgot", both with kids' vocals), then contrasts that purity with a pipin' hot "Santa Baby" (one of the best renditions I have heard) that will smoke your audio system. "When I Think of Christmas" has much to offer the jazz aficionado. Of the 14 tracks, Bennett composed four ("Last Christmas", "Christmas Is...", "My Kind of Christmas", and "It Wouldn't Be Christmas")and band member Bill Augustine (piano) composed a fifth ("Only You Can Make It Christmas"). The remaining nine cuts include jazz standards such as "Santa Baby" and "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve", some less obvious choices for jazz treatment ("Do You Hear What I Hear"), and some lesser known numbers ("Snowfall, "Dear Santa Claus"). All work well in this impressive package. Bennett's sultry voice is marvelous. I was hooked the moment I heard the first cut, "Do You Hear What I Hear". The artist's voice is warm and intimate on this swingin' jazz number, and you can feel her excitement regarding what she's "hearing". Her "Santa Claus Is Comin To Town" comes to town with sassy verve. As for her original compositions, Bennett's songwriting skills are strong, but reflect a pop sensibility more than classic jazz. He "Last Christmas" is a heartfelt, loving tearjerker; in it, the artist is recalling spending Christmas with her parents, now both deceased (having passed away relatively recently, Bennett's mom served as the inspiration for this disc). "My Kind Of Christmas" is another winner, extolling the best parts of the season and including children't voices in the chorus.< When I Think Of Christmas Music Chris Bennett When I Think Of Christmas Songs When I Think Of Christmas Review
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