Serving fans of contemporary jazz since 1996!
Here are the top selling contemporary jazz recordings as listed by Billboard on March 2, 2002. The Pat Metheny Group’s Speaking of Now debuted at #1.
Billboard reported these as the Top Contemporary Jazz Albums of 1997:
This year’s top jazz albums are on the Billboard site. Looks like another good year for Tony Bennett.
In the earlier days of this site, I ran a top ten list of the most popular contemporary jazz at the time. This chart was based on sales and radio play. Here were the top 10 from December 5, 1997!
Boney James, Sweet Thing, Warner Bros.
Boney James is now two for two for excellent holiday recordings. Almost a decade ago, I reviewed the saxman’s first seasonal CD, Boney’s Funky Christmas, and was impressed. I love the Christmas season and have a larger-than-average number of related discs. The fact that this is one of them that I put on first each season says something.
I’ve been listening to the new Christmas Present for about a month and jotting down notes on it. The words I wrote the most are warm, intimate, and acoustic. This is a great holiday recording and not just in the contemporary jazz genre. The opening track, “Skating,” maintains the jazzy feel of the original Vince Guaraldi composition. Boney’s playing effectively mimics the falling snow vibe I’ve always heard in the song. “Santa Baby” surprised me with an arrangement I’ve never heard before. I know a lot of musicians want to try something different with seasonal songs because everyone has heard the standard versions. More often than not, those make me wince. You know what I’m talking about. This different version, with a sultry vocal by Chante Moore, gets better for me each time I hear it. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” is treated with reverence and feeling. The acoustic guitar and light keyboard interplay with a gentle saxophone had made this one of the most memorable versions of the song I have. The emotion is also palpable on the somber Joni Mitchell classic “River” – which is just Boney and Tim Carmon on acoustic piano. “O Tannenbaum” starts with a startling warm tenor sound then kicks into a festive mood about a minute and a half into it. It’s likely to get the people at your holiday party to start clapping. Speaking of fun, Angie Stone injects the uptempo, non-bluesy “Merry Christmas, Baby.” It’s another one for the party. My favorite track is “Silent Night” featuring Anthony Hamilton. It’s a gospel rendition featuring Boney, a Hammond B-3, an acoustic piano, and Hamilton’s vocal. Your local uninhibited church won’t be so silent if they hear this. Nice.
Christmas Present is more than a standard, going-through-the-motions holiday recording. It’s better than every other contemporary jazz recording I’ve heard in the last few years, and it’s better than the best selling holiday recording of all time. I think that can be chalked up to heart. There’s feeling in many of the songs. It’s music that can be enjoyed by everyone. Only the Grinch wouldn’t enjoy this gift.
[This is an archived review I wrote at some point between 1997 and 1999.]
The ads for Boney’s first holiday release call this “the album to put on after you put the kids to bed.” Sure enough, Boney’s Funky Christmas features the seductive grooves you know the saxman for. This is the smoothest Christmas release I’ve heard in the last two years. Boney’s stamp on these songs (mostly traditional holiday tunes) is distinctive and the rhythms and production by his longtime producer, Paul Brown are top notch. Boney is especially tender on the Chris Eaton/Amy Grant composition “Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song).” He has able assistance on the album from guest vocalists Dee Harvey (on “This Christmas”) and Bobby Caldwell (on “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve”). Rick Braun guests on “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” Although the other eight tracks are in the silky r&b vein, Boney also tries his hand at a stripped down sound with just him and percussionist Paulinho Da Costa on “Jingle Bells.” Overall, this is one of the most solid contemporary jazz holiday releases and one that will be enjoyed for years to come.
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