Tony Bennett - A Swingin' Christmas

A Swingin' Christmas pairs Tony Bennett with the Count Basie Big Band for a 2008 holiday set that swings harder than most seasonal records dare, pressed here on 140-gram vinyl.

Bennett's history with the Basie sound went back to celebrated collaborations in the late 1950s. Teaming up with the band that still carried Basie's name gave him the perfect excuse to treat Christmas standards like the jazz tunes they often are, with punchy brass, a walking bassline and plenty of room for the soloists. At 82, his voice had lost none of its charm or timing, and he clearly relished every chorus.

The record opens with "I'll Be Home for Christmas", delivered with a wistful glow, and from there the band keeps finding fresh angles on familiar tunes. "Silver Bells" and "Winter Wonderland" get the full big-band treatment, all finger-snapping rhythm and bright horn punctuation, while "Christmas Time Is Here" lets Bennett settle into Vince Guaraldi's melody like a warm coat.

Throughout, the brass section punches with real bite, and the rhythm section never lets the tempo sag.

It suits a festive dinner as well as a quiet night with the tree lights on. For fans of classic vocal jazz, it is a seasonal staple and proof of how effortlessly Bennett could make a big band sound like home.