AMG Review of Christmas with Etta Jones

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

The fine vocalist Etta Jones sings nine mostly-familiar Christmas-related songs on this 1990 CD. She is accompanied by one of two groups: a sextet with tenor-saxophonist Houston Person, guitarist Randy Johnston and pianist Stan Hope or an octet with tenorman Bill Easley, flugelhornist Johnny Coles and keyboardist Horace Ott. Nothing all that memorable occurs on tunes such as "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "The Christmas Song," "Merry Christmas Baby" and "White Christmas" but the overall results are pleasing.