Dec 4, 2010
Today we bring you a vibes-rich version of “A Holly Jolly Christmas” by Charles Xavier (no, not the comic-book doctor) from his CD Xmas Vibe. A jazz drummer since he was sixteen, Xavier was born and raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where the East Coast jazz scene shaped and defined his musical tastes.
He studied arranging and composition at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and at the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, New York, he studied drumming with Jack DeJohnette, Bobby Moses, Stu Martin and Jumma Santos, and creative ensemble performance under the guidance of Karl Berger, Dave Holland, Kalaparusha, and John Ambercrombie. He’s recorded with his own bands, like Xavier and the Messengers and Satori, as well as been a leader with various combos.
A portion of the proceeds from the Xmas Vibe CD, downloads and ticket sales will benefit the Bread & Roses Charity and The Boys and Girls Clubs of America In addition, Xavier's tour dates will also include daytime charity performances at senior and youth centers featuring Xavier on solo vibraphone with pre-recorded accompaniment. Evening live performances will feature Xavier on vibraphone with electric guitar accompaniment, with the addition of special guest vocalists and percussionists in select markets. He’s on a New England swing right now, stopping at Middletown, CT and his hometown of New Bedford.
“A Holly Jolly Christmas” was written by Johnny Marks in 1962. The song was first recorded by the Quinto Sisters but it is the Burl Ives recording for the 1964 TV Special "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" that made this tune a Christmastime standard. Visit Bongobells to learn more about the song and everything else you'd ever want to know about Christmas music.