What is the best Christmas album and why is it Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas?
It has the perfect selection of classic American Christmas songs. Ella sings flawlessly. (It’s my favorite period of her recording – around the same time she was recording the Songbook series, her classic Ella in Berlin live album, and plenty of other great material for Verve Records.)
The band is great. It’s a jazz album while still being approachable to a non-aficionado. The arrangements are clever and fun, and she has fun with them.
There are plenty of other Christmas albums I love (Nat King Cole! Bing Crosby! Nancy Wilson! James Taylor!), but this one is the best of the best.
If this album isn’t in your regular rotation, you’re missing out on a peak Christmas musical experience.