Swingin' Christmas (CD - 2007)

Personnel: Michael Bolton (saxophone); Peter Erskine (drums).

Additional personnel: Gayle Levant Richards, Joe Meyer, Brad Warnaar (harp); John Wittenberg, Gil Romero, Katia Popov, Tammy Harwan, Bruce Ducov, Peter Kent, Natalie Leggett, Nicole Garcia, Armen Garabedian, Darius Campo, Josephina Vergara, Charlie Bisharat (violin); Carole Kleister, Harry Shirinian (viola); Rudy Stein, Dan Tobin Smith, Larry Corbett, Steve Richards (cello); Brandon Fields (flute, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone); Kim Richmond (clarinet, alto saxophone); Rob Lockhart (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Jeff Driskill (woodwinds); Jason Peterson Delaire (saxophone); Tom Peterson (baritone saxophone); Peter DiSiena, Kevin Richardson, Warren Luening, Wayne Bergeron, Kyle Palmer, Ron King (trumpet, flugelhorn); William Lane, Rick Todd (French horn); Alex Illes, Andy Martin, Arturo Velasco, Bob McChesney (trombone); Richard Bullock (bass trombone); Shawne Jackson, Onita Hutton, Kurt Kykes, Keith Allen , Sylver Logan Sharp, Cammie Knight, Jodie Butler (background vocals); Dan Neufeld, Shawn Mann, Darrin McCann.

While Michael Bolton's 1996 THIS IS THE TIME Holiday disc concentrated on rock- and soul-oriented versions of Christmas classics, his A SWINGIN' CHRISTMAS lives up to its title. While Bolton's winning vocals won't make you forget Bennett or Sinatra, he incorporates some genial, classy swing moves into the mix, proving that his fine showing on SWINGS SINATRA--Bolton's matue, jazz-inflected tribute to Ol' Blue Eyes--was no fluke.

NOTE: A SWINGIN' CHRISTMAS is a re-release of the similarly titled Target exclusive disc with the addition of two new songs, "Silent Night" and "Joy to the World." minimize