Physical CD with sleeve featuring original illustrations by Shawna Mauchline (Rick & Morty), and graphic design by Pomona Lake.
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about
"Santa Claus Blues" is the earliest example I was able to find of a commercial Christmas song, having been published in 1924. Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" was published 11 years later in 1935, and the bulk of such songs that we are familiar with ("Let It Snow", "Frosty the Snowman", "I'll Be Home For Christmas"...) date to the economic boom beginning with and following WWII. I feel the common cultural attitude towards Christmas and Christmas music changed very much as a result of said boom, and I've been very interested to explore that through researching repertoire.
I first heard "Santa Claus Blues" as an instrumental by the Red Onion Jazz Babies (featuring Louis Armstrong and Lil Hardin) on a 78rpm record, and was struck by the facts that it was paired with a non-Christmas title, "Terrible Blues", and that the label on the disc looked exactly like any other - no decorations of holly or bells or anything. The tune was simply treated like a tune, fit to be played at any time of year and not hyped up because of its association with Christmas. In looking for other recordings I found the one by Clarence Williams' Blue Five which features Eva Taylor singing the choruses (as well as Louis Armstrong again!). I couldn't help but appreciate the frustration and disappointment expressed in the lyrics -
they contrast so sharply with the insistent, some might say obnoxious, joy of the more commonly known commercial Christmas songs, but, to be frank, they seem to more accurately and honestly describe how so many people truly feel during a time of year that is riddled with the challenges of inclement weather, extra stress in the workplace, pressure to spend lots of money and please everyone all the time, and an underlying message that one must only express a happy-go-lucky attitude throughout this emotionally complex season. A little extra research turned up some written lyrics for the tune's verse, which I was able to line up with the recorded verses on each of the aforementioned recordings, and I was then able to put my own arrangement together which I've been performing at my December gigs for the past few years (because even if it would have been fine to perform this tune in any other month in 1924, I don't feel modern audiences would appreciate that at this time ;) ).
In preparing for this recording session and envisioning my possibilities for instrumentation, I kept coming back to the vision of not one but TWO raunchy trombones, Arnt's powerful strum, and Aaron's fervent tambourine playing. It's a strange instrumentation and I got some funny looks when I said that's what I wanted to do, but the result is so totally what I was aiming for: a mighty driving quarter note, intertwining trombones that express so many things at once from silliness to sauciness to excitement to sadness, an outstanding platform over which to sing my vocals, and the bringing together of a multigenerational group of musicians who all really inspire each other.
I very much hope you enjoy this unique Christmas treat!
lyrics
The merry bells are ringing today,
But they don't mean nothing to me.
I hear the children singing today,
But I'm as blue as I can be.
Ol' Santa Claus forgot my address,
That's one thing I can plainly see.
It may be Christmas to some folks;
It's just December 25th to me!
No money, no honey to buy a present for me.
Nobody, no toddy to make things pleasant for me.
Last night my stocking I hung,
Just like when I was young,
But this morning there was vacancy.
No mingling, no jingling coin.
No pickin' on chicken, pork chop, or tenderloin.
Soon I'll hear New Year's chimes;
That just means more hard times.
Bad luck, you're hard to lose;
I got the Santa Claus blues.
credits
from Christmas Treats,
released December 1, 2016
"Santa Claus Blues" was written by Gus Kahn & Charley Straight in 1924.
Arranged by Jen Hodge and this lineup of Jen Hodge All Stars in 2016.
Personnel: Brad Shigeta, trombone; Sky Lambourne, trombone; Arnt Arntzen, guitar; Aaron Levinson, tambourine; Jen Hodge, bass.
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