LOS ANGELES, Oct. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Verve is proud to celebrate the holidays with two heartwarming Christmas releases – Joyful Jazz! Christmas with Verve, Vol. 1: The Vocalists, and Joyful Jazz! Christmas with Verve, Vol. 2: The Instrumentals, as part of their 60^th Anniversary. Both releases, which feature tracks across five decades from some of the finest vocalists and instrumentalists from Universal Music's family of labels including Verve, Blue Note, Impulse!, Decca, GRP, Cadet, Argo, and more, will be available separately on CD and digitally on October 21.

Pre-order Joyful Jazz Vol. 1: The Vocalists: https://UMe.lnk.to/JoyfulJazzVol1
Pre-order Joyful Jazz Vol. 2: The Instrumentals: https://UMe.lnk.to/JoyfulJazzVol2

Christmas is deeply rooted in tradition, and one staple of that tradition is carolers traveling door-to-door, crooning quintessential Christmas songs. The Vocalists features some of the most illustrious singers performing their favorite holiday tracks. You'll hear Willie Nelson and Norah Jones' take on "Baby, It's Cold Outside," as well as Diana Krall's rendition of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town," Ella Fitzgerald performing "White Christmas," and Dinah Washington on "Silent Night," previously a rare single-only release. The album also boasts spirited tracks from Mel Tormé, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Patti Austin, Peggy Lee, Shirley Horn, Diane Schuur, Betty Carter and Judy Holliday.

The instrumental tunes are just as entrenched in these traditions – it seems like every classic holiday film features a family gathering with a loved one at the piano playing Christmas standards. Here, The Instrumentals portray exciting takes on songs like "Silver Bells" from Kevin Eubanks, "Frosty The Snowman" as interpreted by Roy Hargrove and Christian McBride, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" performed by the Bill Evans Trio, Stanley Jordan's version of "Silent Night" and Kenny Burrell's take on "The Little Drummer Boy." Don't miss other standout performances by the Ramsey Lewis Trio, Mark Whitfield, Tom Scott, who contributes "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," a song originally created for the four-time Academy Award-nominated film Meet Me in St. Louis' soundtrack, as well as Nelson Rangell, Jimmy Smith, the Lionel Hampton Sextet, and Eliane Elias. Two additional tracks stand out on The Instrumentals release. Oscar Peterson's "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" is previously unreleased and available here for the first time; it was recorded with Buddy Bregman and his orchestra in 1957 during Peterson's sessions for his Verve album, Soft Sands. The collection also includes a rare alternate version of John Coltrane Quartet's "Greensleeves," which previously had only been available on the Deluxe Edition of Trane's album, Ballads.

For more music to get you in the mood for the holiday season, UMe has you covered with their "Christmas" playlist. The 70-song collection features some of the biggest songs and artists in the holiday canon and pairs timeless classics from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Burl Ives, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald and Vince Guaraldi Trio with modern staples from Michael Bublé, Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga, Diana Krall, Dave Koz, Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Sam Smith, Mary J. Blige and many others for an eclectic and festive playlist sure to be the perfect soundtrack for your holidays. Stream via Spotify here: http://smarturl.it/UMeXmasPlaylist

Joyful Jazz! Christmas with Verve, Vol 1: The Vocalists 
Track Listing
1.   The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) - Mel Tormé
2.   Baby, It's Cold Outside - Willie Nelson featuring Norah Jones
3.   Christmas Time Is Here - Patti Austin
4.   Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Diana Krall with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
5.   It Must Be Christmas - Judy Holliday with the Gerry Mulligan Orchestra
6.   Peace On Earth - Peggy Lee
7.   (There Is No Place Like) Home For The Holidays - Betty Carter
8.   I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - Billie Holiday
9.   I'll Be Home For Christmas - Diane Schuur
10. Peace - Norah Jones
11. White Christmas - Ella Fitzgerald
12. 'Zat You, Santa Claus? - Louis Armstrong & The Commanders
13. Winter Wonderland - Shirley Horn
14. Silent Night - Dinah Washington

Joyful Jazz! Christmas With Verve, Vol 2: The Instrumentals
Track Listing
1.   Here Comes Santa Claus - Ramsey Lewis Trio
2.   Those Soulful Jingle Bells - Mark Whitfield
3.   Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Tom Scott
4.   The Little Drummer Boy - Kenny Burrell
5.   I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm* - Oscar Peterson Quartet w/ Buddy Bregman and his orchestra
6.   Silver Bells - Kevin Eubanks
7.   Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Nelson Rangell
8.   God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Jimmy Smith
9.   Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - The Bill Evans Trio
10. Frosty The Snowman - Roy Hargrove and Christian McBride
11. Swingle Jingle - Lionel Hampton Sextet
12. Silent Night - Stanley Jordan
13. I'll Be Home For Christmas/Sleigh Ride - Eliane Elias
14. Greensleeves - The John Coltrane Quartet
 * Previously unreleased

For more information, please visit: VerveMusicGroup.com

Information and press materials (including album covers, promotional photos and bios) on all DL Media artists can be found at our website: dlmediamusic.com

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161018/429960

SOURCE Verve

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