Holiday songs help brighten the darkest of times – at least for a little while. And this trio’s joyously rousing take on the classic “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” can’t help but deck the halls and make those spirits bright.
The song, officially known as “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” was written by J. Fred Coots (1897-1987) and Haven Gillespie (1888-1975) and first recorded in 1934 by banjo player Harry Reser and his orchestra, with Tom Stacks on vocal. Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters had a hit with the tune in 1947 as did many pop acts over the years, including The Supremes, Frank Sinatra, The Crystals, Michael Bublé and, more recently, Lady Gaga.
I’ve always been partial to the Jackson 5’s funky 1970 “Santa Claus,” with an animated young Michael bringing on the holiday cheer. But, today, the best known and most enduringly popular version of the song is probably Bruce Springsteen’s 1975 live recording – first released in 1981 and a favorite since it appeared as the 1985 b-side to the single release of “My Hometown,” from Born in the USA.
Jazz, too, has long found joy in “Santa Claus,” and this version, by the three jazz wisemen, collectively known as the “Standards Trio” – pianist Keith Jarrett, bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette – is one of the most fun and joyous I’ve heard in years.
Recorded in November 1998, but not released until 2018, this triumvirate wows in this particular performance. The song appears on the album After the Fall – a title referring to Jarrett’s successful return to playing piano, after two years, due to a bout of CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome).
While such pianists as Ramsey Lewis (1961), Bobby Timmons (1965), Duke Pearson (1969), David Benoit (1983), Paul Bley (1986), and Oscar Peterson (1995) have covered “Santa Claus,” nothing compares to the wonderfully bracing version heard here – with one possible exception.
Consider Bill Evans’ genuinely festive version of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” recorded exactly 35 years earlier, a song from the milestone Trio 64…also featuring the late, great Gary Peacock (1935-2020).
“Santa Claus” would factor among many of the songs I would choose to populate a playlist of exceptional Jack DeJohnette performances. The drummer, pianist and NEA Jazz Master, who passed away in October, was easily one of the most remarkable – and multifaceted – musicians to work in jazz over the last six decades (he was an underappreciated composer, accomplished sideman and notable bandleader as well).
I’m grateful that ECM thought to document and release this trio’s comeback concert, effectively capturing this wonderful performance of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” With Keith Jarrett’s retirement from performing in 2020 – following a stroke in 2018 that severely impacted his left hand – and the passings of both Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette, it is a joy that so much of the beautiful music they made remains left for us to hear. It’s so good, for goodness sake.