For our redoubtable isonprize, a bit of jazzy Christmas, in my third of my series of Christmas music.
Ella Fitzgerald – The Christmas Song
Duke Ellington – Jingle Bells
John Coltrane – Greensleeves
Roy Hargrove – Frosty the Snowman
Dave Brubeck Quartet – Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Beegie Adair – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Jazz Duo & Friends – White Christmas
Son de Tikiza – O Christmas Tree
Dinah Washington – Silent Night
Groove out, awesome people!
The Obama Diary 
Oh, now this is some good stuff! Ella, Duke – it just doesn’t get any better than this!
Thanks for sharing!
Hey LL! Great!
Congrats GGail on #1 🙂
Hi hf! Thanks. These tunes are right on time
‘Twas The Night Before Christmas
This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan. We received it by email from several different people.
‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I’D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN’T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
“SANTA DON’T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON’T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.”
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN’T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT’S CHILL.
I DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, “CARRY ON SANTA,
IT’S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.”
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
“MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.”
This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan. The following
is his request:
PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as
you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S.
service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities.
Let’s try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people
stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrifice themselves for
us. Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.
Joseph
Digital Widgets, LLC
HAND SALUTE!
Hand Salute to YOU Sir!!!!!
My honor.
LL – Cannot tell you how much I appreciate seeing these Christmas song links! Gotta get back in the mood, which I was trying to do by watching my DVR’d CBS Sunday Morning, usually not a bad show. Today, they had on the “other brother” of the infamous Koch brothers, whom we’re supposed to feel sorry for, because he was duped out of $4M+ for 400+ fake collector bottles of wine. He’s “tired of the aggravation.” So, now that I’ve complained with my tweet, I shall listen to Christmas music! Thanks!
That’s Karma – shame it wasn’t more. Wine is for drinking, not collecting.
Ha. There ya go!!!!
Awesomeeeeeee….beautiful
Great installment of your Christmas series LL! Thanks 🙂 🙂
Howdy O’s!! Another great getting up say under the TOD mistletoe!!
Let the holiday season begin!!!!
One of rock and roll’s earliest – and greatest – rock performers was the incomparable Buddy Holly.
Despite his bespectacled, nerdy appearance, the man really knew how to ignite an audience. In fact, the folks who attended Buddy’s performances got so excited that many of his concerts ended with a riot. Just as soon as the fans saw that Buddy had performed the closing song, they would fly into a collective rage, smash chairs, storm the stage, and tear down the curtain. No theater owner would hire Buddy because they feared that their patrons would…
Wreck the Halls, with Bows of Holly!!
How long ya been holdin’ that one in, cookemom?
Ha!
Oh there’s more….see below. I have more, but must dole them out slowly as to avoid groanisitis.
Ha! Keep ’em coming, slowly. I’m easing my way into Christmas week!
LL!!! Thank you so much!! Love the Jazzy Christmas! And how could you go wrong with Duke AND Ella!!! Thanks so much…
Here are a few of my “modern” soul favorites
Alexander O’Neal – My Gift to you…
Donny Hathaway – This Christmas
https://twitter.com/Kahsai/status/414850131289067520
Here is my new favorite…
Kem featuring Ledisi — Be Mine for Christmas
Then there’s this one:
Good King Wenceslas rings up a local pizza restaurant to order a pizza.
“Certainly your majesty” says the manager “will it be your usual?…..
Deep pan, crisp and even?”
Keep forgetting about those who can now stay on their parents’ plan up to age 26 – that brings up the #s quite nicely:
And it is so……..
A little toe tappin’ time.
LL this is fabulous! What a great way to get into the Christmas mood! I know all these cats except for Son de Tikizia – what a pleasure to hear something new to my ear for the Christmas season. 🙂
and now I’m going to go and finish decorating.
This is great thanks again!
Another reminder of mt youth. (Let me know when to stop).
Forgot the reminder. 😳
That’s the song, the Temptation version of “Silent Night”. Thank you yardarm756, thank you. 🙂
Nothing like “old sdhool”, eh?
Nothing like.
We’ve survived some pretty good times;all things considered.
A different stroke but very good…….back to lurking for me. 🙂
Thank you our lovely Tally who worked hard to get my brother signed for hc by the deadline. You my dear are amazing in your own right!
Well….. keep checking and trying to pay his bill online, and he has his ID card in hand,. When all that happens, and it’s not so insane, I’ll be a lot more relieved and happy.
Adding to the Jazzy Christmas, my favorite, Miles Davis & pals (including Doc Severinsen) from Scrooged:
Clip from film:
Long AWESOMESAUCE version to LISTEN TO:
A little risque for the time.
Eartha Kitt – Santa Babu
Awesome!
ah fabulous! incomparable! 🙂
In keeping with the jazz theme.
https://twitter.com/VitaliiSediuk/status/414880005747773440
I’m having a high old-time digging up stuff from my past. This is a long cut.
LOVE THIS SONG!
Thanks LL!!!! This is great. I get stuck watching and listening to others when I click on one. Marvelous, Darling. Keep them coming into the TOD family. I am loving this great music.
((((((((((((((((((((( Thank you Tally, our beautiful angel for your dedicated spirit. You are the best. ))))))))))))))))))))))))))HZ
Good evening, TOD. Another “wave by” as I break for chow.
I make a point of donating feminine products and toiletries along with food items for the very reasons they list. They’re often overlooked and the need underestimated.
Ella swingin’ on Sleigh Ride – A fave of mine. Happy Holidays TOD Peeps!
Good afternoon all TODbots! Thanks for all the wonderful Christmas music! Great background music as I clean house and get more Christmas done.
Especially as my husband watches all the football games.
A classic from Ramsey Lewis ………
Ooooo funky onion! 🙂
And a classic from another piano great, Oscar Peterson:
Ahhh. purple you are all up in my wheelhouse. 😀
🙂 One of the reasons Xmas is a favorite holiday, cuz I gets to blast stuff like this in the house, in the car, at work all month… Don’t make me break out Jimmy Smith now! 🙂
Help yos’f Honey-bunch! 😀
This is not good.
Thank yoooooooou LL, what a looooovely post!!
Okay, new post in 16 minutes, 23 seconds – the first in a very lovely Xmas series.
You’re weeeeeeeeeeeeeelcome Chiparoo!
Just back from shopping for dinner—pork chops, squash & zucchini—and lunch. Stewie the wonderpup was a good boy and stayed quietly in his crate. Now time for a winter’s nap.
“Stewie the wonderpup was a good boy”
LL, would your services be available in 2014 to train a certain someone? No, not VC or Amk – Danny.
I heard that.
Oh, I have no dogtraining skills. This has all been due to our doggie daycare goddess. We’re just the beneficiaries.
http://www.politicususa.com/2013/12/22/nbc-news-dumping-david-gregory-host-meet-press.html
NBC Is Considering Dumping David Gregory As Host of Meet The Press
Turness has been trying to figure out the future for David Gregory’s “Meet the Press,” with options including bringing in MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” team of Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for a Sunday show, or blowing up the entire franchise and trying something completely different, sources familiar with the situation said,
***********************************
any chance of this happening??
MTP has become a toxic waste dump.
I think MTP has become basically a joke. If they replace DG with Joe and Mika, it will go completely down the toilet. NBC has just sunk lower and lower for the last year. The once proud peacock has lost all its feathers.
The letters following that article are interesting…several want Rachel Maddow to take over the host job. Some want Joy Reid, as those two women do their homework, ask tough questions, and don’t let anyone get by with talking points. Someone said he doubted if many Repub senators would have the cojones to go on and face Rachel!
So far, NBC has been making all stupid decisions. From the tone of the article, Brian Williams is also in trouble. However, it seems their ideas are not going to help.
Wonderful musicians and vocalists. Ella is a classy and classic Jazz vocalist for the ages. My mother’s favorite and one of mine.
LOL.
In honor of our illustrious Prez and the First Family in lovely Hawaii. Island Christmas….. 🙂
Take this quiz re. your personal dialect and it will tell you where you’re from, where you live. My results nailed it—–Iowa where I grew up and northern Illinois, where I live now.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/12/20/sunday-review/dialect-quiz-map.html?r=80n44891040100b000800000204000048j0l020010000b0000
Got me perfectly. Even after all these years of living in L.A., my speech is still New Yorker.
Ct. daughter said even after 13 years in yankee land, her midwestern roots prevailed.
Well being an Aussie it seems I should be at home in New York, Providence and New Jersey – although Florida and a few other Southern states do well. I think I have a mixed up dialect for the US!
The answer I got was : ugh!!!!! Must be the French accent along with a bit of a southern twang!
You are multi-cultural, an everywoman! I was not shocked to see I was least compatible with cities in the south. Guess I have to stay where it is cold and snowy and people say “pop”.
My worst match was Texas – guess I can wear that one with pride – until they start to believe in women’s rights
Thank was fun. The test proved you can take the girl out of Boston but you can’t take the Boston out of the girl.
No indian dialect ? Bummer.
Interesting. Not even close …
I love quizzes, and this was fun. I liked the fact that this was not an either/or dichotomous quiz, but many alternatives were offered. Sometimes I answered “I have no word for this.” What it showed me was that my first ten years in Michigan and Illinois totally determined the way I speak. I think there’s a lot of truth in that. I certainly don’t sound like Oklahoma, though I’ve lived here 32 years. Several weeks ago, standing at the deli counter at the local grocery store, two other people got into a discussion about baloney loaf. They looked at me for confirmation…..I told them I didn’t know what they were talking about. The man said he wasn’t surprised, then added “You’re not from here are you. I can tell.” The woman said she probably makes her dressing with white bread…..I didn’t even bother responding…..my mother was a Texan and I grew up with corn bread dressing…..glad I didn’t know about baloney loaf!!!
Same here. Nowhere near anywhere I’ve ever lived. In my case, I guess it’s due to the Army brat thing, too many different influences from moving around a lot as a kid.
Has Donna checked in? She took a WH tour today!
WHOA, she just turned up on twitter. I’m psychic!
New post!
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/12/22/2013-collegekays-most-memorable-moments/
I used to teach at summer activity camps and remember a summer many years ago before this test was made up where we were gathered with teachers from all over the country/world. We noticed dialects and came up with items asking what they called them. One of the teachers there mentioned knowing of some list of words where a person could be determined to live within twenty miles of where they grew up. This list pretty much does that. There were several words in this quiz similar to what we used in our informal think it on the spot quiz. We also had some European teachers there expanding the curiosity even further.
Hate to break the mood but this is a real history lesson.
“Defeated by the Southern strategy, McGovern neatly summed it up: “What is the Southern Strategy? It is this. It says to the South: Let the poor stay poor, let your economy trail the nation, forget about decent homes and medical care for all your people, choose officials who will oppose every effort to benefit the many at the expense of the few—and in return, we will try to overlook the rights of the black man, appoint a few southerners to high office, and lift your spirits by attacking the ‘eastern establishment’ whose bank accounts we are filling with your labor and your industry.””
Yep.
And, so it is of no surprise that as President Obama continues the “3rd Reconstruction” – which will succeed – the GOP has been, since 20Jan09, totally freaking out.
Amen brother.
uh huh
uh huh
Never EVER forget that they played the Southern Strategy for all it was worth in 2012, and Willard won SIXTY PERCENT of the White vote.
AND IT DIDN’T EVEN MATTER.
He got stomped in the popular vote and electoral college.
Barack Obama put a stake through the heart of the Southern Strategy.