Jazz CDs help you swing in the holidays

"What A Night!," Harry Connick, Jr. (Columbia Records)

Connick is already an old hand at the Christmas format. Perhaps the jazziest of this year's crop of Christmas jazz records, "What A Night!" is Connick's third holiday release, a mix of standards and four original compositions, which set his album apart.

The songs on "What A Night!" take turns moving through several jazz idioms, big-band swing, blues, New Orleans funk and a gospel duet with singer Kim Burrell on an original composition, "Song for the Hopeful."

The album also marks the recording debut of Connick's 10-year-old daughter Kate, who sings with her father on "Winter Wonderland." He introduces her at the beginning of the track in a sweet exchange that begins in charming earnest, and then becomes a sort of daughterly challenge.

"A Swingin' Christmas," Tony Bennett (Columbia Records)

The last of the old, great crooners, Bennett recorded his second Christmas album with the Count Basie orchestra. Several holiday standards from his first album are repeated here with arrangements that are appreciably different. Monty Alexander plays piano on the new record. While the Basie band is a new, retooled version, the vocalist is the genuine article.

One of the most durable pop stars ever, Bennett is still recording and has remained relevant, making cameo appearances on the hit television series, "Entourage," perhaps the best indicator of just how hip he still is.

Among the highlights of the album: a duet with his daughter, Antonia Bennett, on "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm," and a moving, wistful rendition of "O Christmas Tree," in Bennett's best element, accompanied only by piano.

"A Night Before Christmas," Spyro Gyra (Heads Up)

The album is not exactly what you think it will be. The group that helped pioneer smooth jazz plays it relatively straight for its first Christmas album. The group has dispensed with the funk-rock brand of jazz the group made its reputation on in favor of light swing.

The pop/contemporary jazz group does all the holiday standards, inviting several vocalists to liven up a few tracks. There are a few highlights, drummer Bonny B singing and channeling Al Jarreau. It's department-store-soundtrack Christmas music, but in the best possible way, very pleasant and to the point.

"Christmas," Al Jarreau (Rhino Records)

The album features the first collaboration between Jarreau and the jazz/gospel/Christian vocal group Take 5, on an a capella rendition of "I'll Be Home For Christmas," a bit overwrought at times but alone worth the price of the CD.

Jarreau puts it all on his first ever Christmas album, gospel, pop, vocal acrobatics, stirring ballads, even a version of "Hark The Herald Angels Sing," in 5/4 time.