Going to Nashville!
woohoo!! tomorrow night!!
Brian Setzer Orchestra
Big band leader and former Stray Cat settles into Santa mode for the holidays.
Editorial Rating: Recommended
The Skinny
Most Christmas music is strictly from Squaresville, but when DJs started spinning Brian Setzer's revved up take on "Jingle Bells" from the soundtrack to the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie "Jingle All the Way," the bandleader realized there was a market for a hepper holiday sound. This led to the newly released "Boogie Woogie Christmas" CD, the Orchestra's fifth, and this accompanying year-end theme tour. Reviving long-lost arrangement charts last used by Lionel Hampton and Les Brown's bands, and even dueting with eternal sex symbol Ann-Margret (on CD only), the 16-piece BSO breathes new life and wit into classics like "Winter Wonderland" and the King's "Blue Christmas."
The Crowd
Holiday tune junkies, big band lovers and stray rockabilly cats will rub shoulders at this seasonal soiree that should attract fans of all ages.