Due to some of his statements, Wynton Marsalis gained the reputation of not having much of a sense of humor but the picture of him on this album (plus the music in general) dispelled that notion. Marsalis and his expanded septet (which welcomed such guests as clarinetist Alvin Batiste, baritonist Joe Temperley and, on one song apiece, singers Jo...

Due to some of his statements, Wynton Marsalis gained the reputation of not having much of a sense of humor but the picture of him on this album (plus the music in general) dispelled that notion. Marsalis and his expanded septet (which welcomed such guests as clarinetist Alvin Batiste, baritonist Joe Temperley and, on one song apiece, singers Jon Hendricks and Kathleen Battle) clearly have a good time on this joyous and unpredictable set of holiday cheer. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi