A few of my favorite things.

I despise holiday music. I loved it as a child, because it meant Christmas was coming, and because I’ve always been a singer and adore performing carols. these days, though, the incessant caroling, especially the pop-ified sort that is force-fed to us over commercial radio and in supermarkets and the like, just grates on my nerves. There are some gems to be found among the riffraff, though, and, to aid in my somewhat reluctant enjoyment of the holiday season, I’ve compiled a playlist of them, which I will share with you here.

Ella Fitzgerald, “Christmas Island,” Traditional Jazz– A really fun (and rare) track, this song is the best on an excellent holiday album (Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas). It’s a refreshing change from the more common classics.

Lou Rawls, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” Big Band Jazz– The best rendition of this classic I’ve yet heard, delivered by the late Mr. Rawls in his smooth and soothing way, backed by an impressive band that swings this song just enough to make it enjoyable.

Canadian Brass, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” Classical (Brass Ensemble)- An unassuming but stunning rendition of one of my favorite carols (I do like the minor-tonality carols best- how did you know?!), performed by one of my favorite “mainstream” classical ensembles.

Duke Ellington, “Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy),” Big Band Jazz- Not strictly Christmas, this track is one of several “swung” versions of movements from the Nutcracker. I think I remember reading that Ellington asked Tchaikovsky personally if he could rework the composer’s pieces, and got hearty approval.) The entire album, Three Suites, is worth checking out.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra, “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24),” New Age- A childhood favorite of mine, and this list would not be complete without it. I seldom say this, but it’s the guitar that holds this track together. But you know this, because eeeeveryone who has spent a Christmas in the West has heard this song somewhere.

Louis Armstrong & The Commanders- “‘Zat You, Santa Claus?,” Big Band Jazz- A clever and hilarious tune that I first heard on House (the same might be true of “Christmas Island”; and when you hear it, I assure you, you will see why it was on House.). This one is quite obviously Christmassy, but it’s one of the very few holiday tracks that can be found on my iPod all year round.

Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra, “Carol of the Bells,” Big Band Jazz- This song is the granddaddy of all Christmas tunes. I adore it; it is my favorite Christmas song ever. One of my favorite carols, this arrangement swings hard, with a dark harmonic structure that is daring in comparison to most Christmas carols.

Frank Sinatra, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” Traditional Jazz- I’ve read that Sinatra did not feel as comfortable singing Christmas carols as he did with other material, and, noting the relative lack of emotional involvement in comparison to most of his other recordings, I’m inclined to think that is true. But this selection is beautiful, and appears to be quite rare. I tend to like rarer works.

Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà, “La vierge à la crèche,” Classical (String Ensemble)- Presented by one of my favorite ensembles, the album that includes this beautiful piece composed by Albert Périlhou is- in my opinion- easily the best holiday album of 2010, across all genres. The album includes various works from rare pieces such as this one to a berceuse composed by Dave Brubeck. This particular piece is my favorite from the album, but really represents the entire collection, which has something for anyone to like.

Sarah McLachlan, “The First Noel/Mary Mary,” Pop- “The First Noel” is another of my favorite carols, but it is difficult to find it done in a manner that is both beautiful and not cheesy, and the pronunciation of “Israel” tends to get to me. Sarah McLachlan’s interpolation of the carol with “Mary Mary” is just about the best version I’ve heard (after my own, I will very humbly add). This arrangement is blessedly less “poppy” than most.

Mannheim Steamroller, “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear,” New Age- This one is on here for its soothing qualities. One of its other merits is how different it sounds from most other versions of this carol, and how it explores various textures, despite being under three minutes.

University of British Columbia Singers & soloists, “Lullay My Liking,” Classical (Choral)- This was my favorite Christmas track to play on my Classical show last year. Composed by Stephen Chatman, it is quite far from being the typical carol, and might not even be recognized as one upon a casual listen. Its arrangement is dark and haunting, yet beautiful- just as, if you haven’t guessed, I like my Christmases to be.

John Coltrane, “My Favorite Things,” Jazz- Definitely not a Christmas track, but since many other versions of this Sound of Music tune are played during the holidays, and since this is so easily the best of all those versions, I took the liberty of including it here. Coltrane’s knack for reinterpreting standards is exemplified here, and he and his ensemble (McCoy Tyner at the piano, Steve Davis on bass, and Elvin Jones on the drums) explore this very basic song across some thirteen minutes (on this version from the EP My Favorite Things). Not only does Coltrane play one of my least favorite instruments (the soprano saxophone) brilliantly, but McCoy Tyner also provides a brilliant solo, and the entire group is solid. If that isn’t worthy of play on a holiday like Christmas is supposed to be, then what is?

Vanessa Williams, “What Child Is This?,” R&B/Soul- This is possibly the only R&B remake of a Christmas carol that I’ve heard that I find worthy of bothering with. Most of them (Mariah, Destiny’s Child, Ciara, I’m looking at you) involve too much whining and attempted virtuosity for my liking. Vanessa Williams throws in some stray notes here and there, but stays true to the classic, giving the carol an easy swing and twining a little “Carol of the Bells” into it too. Plus, the video is kinda nice.

Gabriela Montero, “Pachelbel:Canon,” Classical (Solo Piano)- Another not-quite-Christmas selection, but it’s one I’ve loved since I heard it the second time (lol). Gabriela Montero improvises over, as the title suggests, Pachelbel’s famous Canon in D, and gives it a soft, introspective feel. For me, the piece illustrates a novel way of approaching the holiday- with joy and some reverence- and also brings to mind another, not dissimilar, occasion: weddings, at which the Canon is often played. Most importantly, it is expressive and triumphant, two elements that seem to be missing from the holiday season for a good many people- your humble blogger included- in these past, difficult years.

Honorable mentions:

Mariah Carey, “O Holy Night,” Pop- I adore young!Mariah. She was so amazing in the 90s. Then pop died, and she had to find something else to do. At any rate, this rendition is beautiful, and is 90s-Mariah at her finest. Also, “O Holy Night” is one of my favorite carols, and I must mention it somewhere in this post.

Destiny’s Child, “Opera of the Bells,” R&B/Soul- A beautiful, slowed-down rendition, this song is the main reason that I know the actual words to “Carol of the Bells.” If DC3 had made the rest of their album with this much beauty and consideration, the album would have been epic. Instead, it makes me want to eat holly berries and bang my head against a wall.

John Lennon & Yoko Ono “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” Pop- I really like this tune, and it would definitely be on the list if it weren’t so overplayed during the holidays. But, unlike “Christmas Eve” and Williams’ “What Child Is This,” the song is not quite awesome enough to make up for its celebrity.

The 12 Yats of Christmas– the entire CD is good fun. I didn’t include any tracks on the list because they’re hard to find, and because you have to be a New Orleanian, have a good sense of humor, or most likely both in order to enjoy them. But my best friend (from St. Bernard Parish) and I have had some great times listening to the album and singing its songs, often very loudly, often in public.

Those are just my favorites, and aren’t even all-inclusive. But I’ll be listening to this list for the rest of the day and the rest of the season, and in many cases, for the rest of the year.

Here’s wishing you a merry Christmas, and a happy holiday season at large, whether you celebrate any of them or only find yourself washed along the tide of holiday commercialism; and a happy new year, with all the best for 2011.

And for reading this far down: Bonus winter awesomeness- Dean Martin & Frank Sinatra performing “Marshmallow World.” Enjoy.

Introductions are in order.

Depending on who you are, you might know me as Rayne, Rayneyday, Jaime, Jael, Mel, or any of the other various aliases I use on the Interwebs.

I’m a student. I also work three jobs, two paid and one volunteer. I’m a somewhat well-known radio personality in my town.

I’m Jamaican-American, and proud of it. Yeah, Jamaica has some problems. I’ll save that rant for another post. (And yes, the violence down there right now really is as bad as the media’s making it out to be.) No, I’m not a pothead. I’ve never been bobsledding in my life. I’ve yet to nail a cow’s tongue to someone’s front door.

Just so we get that all cleared up.

My interests really do run the gamut. I’m into a little bit of everything. I figure if I could settle down and focus on one subject, maybe I’d have a semblance of an idea of what to do with my life. That doesn’t seem to be in the cards for me, though. So for now, I just fiddle with music and graphics and law and the Web.

Despite my nasty sarcastic streak, I’m actually fairly friendly, especially after I’ve been fed. So feel free to drop me comments as the spirit moves you. I’ll play nice.