Yule dig? Celebrate the holidays with drummer Matt Wilson’s festive Christmas Tree-O

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Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O Chris Pizzolo/Courtesy of Artist hide caption

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Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O

Chris Pizzolo/Courtesy of Artist

Hark, the hippest cats do swing – for Jazz Night's annual holiday celebration! On this episode, we got exactly what we asked for on our list: mistletoe-tapping tunes (and a stocking full of holiday jazz puns) from drummer Matt Wilson and his ever-so-festive outfit The Christmas Tree-O.

Recorded live from Dizzy's Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, the set will take you on a sleigh ride through the joyous holiday song canon, from reinvented classics ("Winter Wonderland," "Silver Bells") to the Lennon-McCartney songbook ("Wonderful Christmastime," "Happy Xmas (War is Over)") and a raucous take on a Hanukkah number ("8 Little Candles").

So put out the milk and cookies and get ready for a holly and jolly show, because Jazz Santa is coming to town.

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Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O Jim Levitt/Courtesy of Artist hide caption

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Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O

Jim Levitt/Courtesy of Artist

Musicians:

Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O

Matt Wilson, drums; Jeff Lederer, reeds; Ted Rosenthal, piano; Paul Sikivie, bass

Set List:

• Winter Wonderland (Felix Bernard, Richard Bernhard Smith)
• Christmas Don't Be Late (Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.)
• Up on the Rooftop (Benjamin Hanby)
• Silver Bells (Jay Livingston, Ray Evans)
• Little Candles (flory Jagoda)
• Happy Christmas (War Is Over) (John Lennon)
• Wonderful Christmastime (Paul McCartney)
• I'll Be Home for Christmas (Kim Gannon, Walter Kent)

Credits:

Writer and Producer: Trevor Smith; Host: Christian McBride; Jazz Santa: Matt Wilson; Project Manager: Suraya Mohamed; Vice President of Visuals and Strategy at NPR Music: Keith Jenkins; Executive Producers: Anya Grundmann and Gabrielle Armand.

Original Article