Judith Owen — Christmas In July

It’s almost time to start thinking about that big Christmas party and this sassy offering by pop-jazz vocalist Judith Owen might just be the thing to throw on at your holiday soiree. There’s a mix of traditional and original yuletide numbers here, including a track penned by the Spinal Tap guys (Harry Shearer, Owen’s husband, also lends his voice to the song). While "Silent Night" is executed in typical ho-hum fashion, Owen adds a delicious smattering of scat to a jazzed-up "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." Owen even manages to evoke Joni Mitchell on the stripped-down piano ballad "The Dancing Tree."

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