december 2008
xmas

album thumbDIG THAT CRAZY CHRISTMAS
The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Surfdog Records
Released: 2005

In a more-than-worthy followup to his 2002 Yuletide fest, Boogie Woogie Christmas, Brian Setzer and his Orchestra return for a wild-eyed holiday treat via Dig That Crazy Christmas,. The whole troupe roars and swings through 11 evergreens, so to speak, and Setzer contributes two new originals: a horn-driven stomper titled "Hey Santa!" spiced with some sizzling vocal and instrumental interplay between Setzer and the orchestra; and a roaring blues grinder in "Santa's Got a Hot Rod," complete with blaring horns and a fine, growling vocal from Setzer describing the wonders of Santa's new souped-up wheels now supplanting his "rusty old sleigh." "White Christmas" gets a gently rocking arrangement graced by honking sax and robust guitar punctuations as Setzer delivers a rhythmically graceful reading a bit beholden to Elvis's approach. A midtempo instrumental version of "My Favorite Things" provides Setzer with a showcase for a jazz-tinged guitar solo, ahead of fanciful flights of brass and woodwinds. For comic relief, consider Setzer's mock spooked-out vocal on "'Zat You Santa?" and his generous serving of ham on "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," to which he adds a reverberant top-strings solo that pays homage to "The Munsters" theme song. On an ambitious note, he gets way out there on a breakneck treatment of "Angels We Have Heard On High," its soaring melody developed, variously by the hearty orchestra and a full-bodied church choir, with enough room for a burst of blaring horns, trebly rock guitar solos and, as punctuation, another guitar interjecting "Peggy Sue" licks throughout. Wind it up with a lush, dreamy rendition of "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve," and there's some memorable Christmas fare from an artist whose heart is always in the right place.—David McGee

THE BLUEGRASS SPECIAL
Founder/Publisher/Editor: David McGee
Contributing Editors: Billy Altman, Derk Richardson
Logo Design: John Mendelsohn (www.johnmendelsohn.com)
Website Design: Kieran McGee (www.kieranmcgee.com)
Staff Photographers: Audrey Harrod (Louisville, KY; www.flickr.com/audreyharrod), Alicia Zappier (New York)
E-mail: [email protected]
Mailing Address: David McGee, 201 W. 85 St.—5B, New York, NY 10024