Various Artists — Santa Swings…The Windup

Santa Swings…The Windup is a twenty-seven-track compilation focusing on Swing- which mainly dates from between the 1930s and 1950s. The CD release is another compilation from the fine folks at German’s Bear Family Records- so of course we find a varied, well-curated and presented collection.

The CD comes presented in a clear jewel case, which features some great retro Christmas art. Inside we find a glossy twenty-page inlay booklet- this features a short write-up, artist's picture, and vinyl labels for each of the collection tracks. This is all quite impressive considering some of these tracks date back ninety-plus years.
 
The first half of the disc moves the sassy sing-song female vocals meets jiving ‘n’ jaunting horn work of “Blow Blow Thou Winter Winds” by  Bob Crosby’s Bob Cats. Onto the bounding keys, galloping rhythm, tight piping trumpets, and spoken/ sung soulful vocals of Paul Whiteman Orch's “Christmas In Harlem”. Through to swooning & waltzing horns, plucking stings, and throaty deep male vocals of “Snowball” by Louis Armstrong orch.
 
Moving onto the second half we have horn jaunt ‘n’ swing meets double bass runs of the instrumental track “Freeze And Melt” by Joe Turner And His Memphis Men. We have the elegantly bounding keys, fiddle swoon, horn warble, and lightly jiving male vocals of  “Robins And Roses” by Stuff Smith And His Onyx Club Boys. The collection is suitably rounded off with the “Bells Of Auld Lang Syne” it's a wonderful shambolic blend of blues guitar licks, chiming bell tones, and sassily wavering horn lines.
 
Santa Swings…The Windup is another fine compilation from Bear Family Record- largely staying away from the more cliched & overplayed Christmas tunes for a most worthy swing collection.