It’s time for Rhythm Planet’s holiday mixtape. Deck your musical halls with classics like The Nutcracker; jazz from Geri Allen, Duke Ellington and Paul Bley; and of course, holiday fare from places near and far—Brazil, Cuba, Syria, Lebanon, Jamaica, Trinidad and Hawai’i. We’ll also hear bummed-out songs by Bob Dorough and Asleep at the Wheel, and evergreens from Till Brönner, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, and David Bowie.
I wanted to included Tony Tani’s “Santa Claus I’m Sorry” in the playlist, but it’s not available on Spotify. I luckily did find it on Youtube. Tani is a Japanese comedian from days past, and a KCRW fan, Alexander Chow-Stuart, sent me this funny song a while back. Tani tells the story of a problematic sleigh ride, chimney accident, and accidental fire that the fire brigade comes to put out. He is very sad to have disappointed Santa Claus, hence the apology.
It’s a mix of styles and moods for your holiday pleasure, with each track part of Tom Schnabel’s extensive holiday music collection. So sit back, relax, and enjoy. Rhythm Planet wishes you a safe and restful holiday.
