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Scott Whitfield & Friends: A Bi-Coastal Christmas

By Jack Bowers
December 31, 2020
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Scott Whitfield & Friends: A Bi-Coastal Christmas

If trombonist

Scott Whitfield

trombone
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Scott Whitfield's A Bi-Coastal Christmas cannot quicken your inner holiday spirit, that will not be for lack of trying. Whitfield uses every ribbon in the packet and every tool in the shed to help make the season bright, from big band to quintet, from duo to solo (Whitfield's trombone all by itself). Two of the selections were recorded in 2004, four others in 2005, whereas Whitfield's brace of solo tracks was taped in 2020 as he cast off the coronavirus, quarantining at home in Pasadena, CA.

Whitfield teams with tenor saxophonist

Pete Christlieb

saxophone
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Pete Christlieb on "Winter Wonderland" and on his own "Christmas in July" (on which he also sings), with tenor/soprano saxophonist

Roger Neumann

saxophone, tenor
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Roger Neumann on "We Three Kings" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem," and leads his Jazz Orchestra East on "Carol of the Drum" (the Little Drummer Boy) and "Silent Night." Whitfield also sings on Milt Kabak's "This Christmas" (with

Bucky Pizzarelli

guitar
1926 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar) and

Lew Anderson

" data-original-title="" title="">Lew Anderson's "A Time for Christmas" (with

Ted Kooshian

piano
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Ted Kooshian on piano). Although he is a fairly good singer, Whitfield's true strength is as a world-class trombonist, a talent he shows on every number, and especially on his overdubbed—and relatively brief—"solo" tracks:

Johnny Mandel

arranger
b.1925

" data-original-title="" title="">Johnny Mandel's "A Christmas Love Song" and

Mel Torme

vocals
1925 - 1999

" data-original-title="" title="">Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song" (wherein he is billed as "the Lonely Bones"). Speaking of world-class, bassist

Jennifer Leitham

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Jennifer Leitham and drummer

Kendall Kay

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Kendall Kay prove more than worthy of that allusion on an extended concert version of "We Three Kings."

"Bethlehem," taken at an uncommonly rapid clip, is another highlight, with exhilarating solos from Whitfield, Neumann (soprano), Leitham and pianist

Bob Florence

piano
1932 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Florence enhancing the live performance. To underscore his versatility, Whitfield scats as well as sings on "Christmas in July," to which Christlieb adds an exclamation mark with a typically careening solo and Leitham shines again. In sum, a bright and colorful bouquet of holiday cheer, lovingly prepared by Whitfield and his many talented friends. And this is only Volume 1! There is no telling what Whitfield and Co. may have in store for 2021. Whatever they choose, it should be something to look forward to with pleasant anticipation.

On a somber note, Whitfield dedicated the album to eight musicians and friends who have since passed away: Florence, Neumann, Pizzarelli, Anderson, Kabak, Mandel,

Ira Sullivan

multi-instrumentalist
1931 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Ira Sullivan and recording engineer Jim Czak.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Winter Wonderland; This Christmas; We Three Kings; A Time for Christmas; Carol of the Drum (The Little Drummer Boy); A Christmas Love Song; O Little Town of Bethlehem; The Christmas Song; Christmas in July; Silent Night.

Personnel

Scott Whitfield

trombone

Pete Christlieb

saxophone

Jeff Colella

piano

Jennifer Leitham

bass

Kendall Kay

drums

Bucky Pizzarelli

guitar

Roger Neumann

saxophone, tenor

John Rangel

piano

Bob Florence

piano

Ted Kooshian

piano

Mike Ponella

trumpet

Mike Hackett

trumpet

Bruce Staelens

trumpet

Karolina Strassmayer

saxophone, alto

Dan Jordan

saxophone, tenor

Dave Schumacher

saxophone, baritone

Pete McGuinness

arranger

Wayne Coniglio

trombone

Kenny Ascher

piano

Phil Palumbi

bass

Additional Instrumentation

Darryl Pellegrini: drums

Album information

Title: A Bi-Coastal Christmas | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Self Produced

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