Cool Christmas Blues

So far, this is my favourite Christmas album by a Rhythm & Blues artist. Some people might think the blues doesn't have anything to do with Christmas, but for some people Christmas can be blue sometimes, and that's why this special genre fits in. Most of the Christmas albums by artists in this genre sound, eh, pretty ridiculous, and some just make you laugh. Not this one. The voice of Charles Brown is superb, the tunes and the sound are fine. I just cannot fault this album, all I can say, is "Merry Christmas Baby".

As a collector of Christmas and Holiday CDs I never fully appreciated or understood the "Christmas Blues" theme UNTIL listening to this album. Blues does not mean depressing and Brown makes that clear. These cool, smooth yuletide treats will certainly help get you into the spirit of the season in the most relaxing way.Brown is responsible for some of our most cherished and classic Christmas blues with his songs being covered from Bon Jovi to BB King. Some may even find his originals to be better than the versions made popular by the mainstream contemporary artists!I have hundreds of Christmas and Holiday CDs, but this CD remains on heavy rotation during the season. If you want to get to the root of the Christmas Blues, I highly recommend this smooth, relaxing collection of Christmas grooves.

I first discovered Charles Brown on Alligator's great Christmas collect. The track that is on that collection 'Merry Christmas Baby' is also the first track and the finest on this album as well. This is by no means a one or two hit wonder. This whole CD is fanastic! Charles Brown has a distinc vocal style, which is covered in a mellow smokey blues sound. His piano playing is sparse, but excellent and his backing band is very capable. Charles guitarist also plays a very sparse style as well leaving plenty of room for Charles great vocals. He sings like no other and willbring you in instantly. Listing to this album makes you want to spike the egg nog and start a fire in the fireplace. If you like the blue and\or like great Christmas music buy this album. You will not be disappointed.

You can look long and hard but you'll have a hard time finding a better Christmas CD than this. Chock full of upbeat bluesy Brown originals mixed in with a few standards, Cool Christmas Blues would earn more than 5 stars if I had a say.These songs are beautifully played and they are long, 4 minutes or so per tune. So you get a pretty good play-length of top-quality yuletide brilliance. You can tell Mr. Brown's heart was 100% in this one and man can he play that piano! His band are all the greatest too so it's a no-brainer. I wouldn't be surprised if 'ol St Nich had this one is his disc player during that long famous flight around the globe, lol!

The definitive Xmas CD. I love to hear Charles Brown play the piano and sing at the same time. A rare talent gone but not forgotten.

This is by far the best Christmas record ever made, period. Charles Brown was so smooth he was simply beyond COOL in such a beautiful way that understated his maturity and understanding of the blues. He is in no rush to get there because he feels in his every fiber and lets it develop it's own coolness. When he sings "there's no mood like gratitude at Christmas, to be alive to spend the season" wow !!!

This is wonderful addition to my Christmas jazz collection. There are several cuts that you hear online a lot during the holidays. Charles Brown wrote two that you will recognize. I recommend this one!

A great jazzy, blues-oriented Christmas CD.