Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Well not really, as it's a balmy low 70's / upper 60's here in southern California (yeah I know, we Angelenos have it so easy), but the highly anticipated music video of Haley’s and Casey’s duet of this holiday classic is finally here! It’s hard to believe, but this is the third collaboration from these lovable and jazzy former Idol finalists, after ‘Moanin’ and ‘I Feel the Earth Move.’ Shot like a homemade movie, I find this video rather cute and charming, kinda like Mariah Carey’s 1994 video of her signature Christmas song ‘All I Want for Christmas is You,’ which you can also find in the ‘Favorites’ section of my YouTube channel (behind this one of course).

‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ is a mash up video with various cuts in both color and black & white of Haley and Casey in different clothes, playfully singing to vintage microphones, goofing off and otherwise engaged in various holiday shenanigans. The two have great chemistry and spontaneity around each other, and who expected right off the bat in a role reversal that it’s Haley opening the door for Casey?  Haley looked, well, scrumptious in a red dress, then a black one.  Some of the cuts featured recording studio personnel, such as the one in which one of them played an air sax. Here’s an idea, we should have a world ‘Air Saxophone’ championship like the one we have for air guitars.  And how about Sax Hero! Who wouldn’t want to be a badass sax player like Kenny G, Dave Koz, Paul Taylor, Mindi Abair or Candy Dulfer?  Just be extra careful when you pronounce the word 'Sax.'

So what about the singing and the music?  In contrast to their previous duets, ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ is light and airy. Heckle if you must, but I always loved that subcategory of jazz (or bastard child of jazz depending on how you see it) people call ‘smooth jazz,’ with its smooth grooves and easy listening rhythms. Piano chanteuse Norah Jones made a pretty decent career out of it, and I still sometimes get goose-bumps whenever I listen to her sing ‘Don’t Know Why’ or ‘Come Away with Me’ live. Though Haley's been known to growl once in a while, I love it even more when she croons softly in that sexy voice of hers.  Her silky smooth jazz voice is like butter, such a pleasure to listen to.  And let's raise a glass to the red-bearded Santa, Casey Abrams, too shall we?  He was magnificent in this duet and damn, his falsetto voice is pretty dope!

Be sure to download this great holiday classic from iTunes or Amazon available starting on November 21. It's the perfect music to listen to while curled up by the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate or apple cider in your lap.  After all, it's cold outside!  Except for southern California, of course.

Jazz Muzings

"Jazz is...... an open-ended music designed for open minds." - Anonymous

One of the things I liked the most about Season 10 of American Idol is that musical genres previously overlooked had finally been given their dues.  James Durbin's efforts to give Heavy Metal a minor comeback was admirable, but it was Jazz that truly shined in Season 10 thanks in large part to Haley and Casey.  Haley incorporated jazz into many of her performances, and their duet of 'Moanin' was THE highlight of the season.  As for Casey, I would never have imagined his performance of 'Nature Boy' would be among my favorite Idol performances of the season.  I mean 'Nature Boy,' really???!!!

I never considered myself a true jazz listener, much less a connoisseur on the subject.  Sure, I've been to a couple of Playboy Jazz Festivals with some friends and enjoy the more popular jazz standards as much as anyone, but I've always regarded jazz as an acquired taste that is somewhat elusive.  Jazz has a sophistication that can be intimidating and, well, you just don't typically hear it on contemporary Top 40 radio playlists.  However, Haley and Casey as well as other contemporary artists such as Michael Bublé, Harry Connick Jr. and Diana Krall have enjoyed some success in putting jazz into the 'mainstream.'

One of my posts just wouldn't be complete without some Haley Reinhart videos.  Featured here is her duet of 'Moanin' with Casey.  Following are also two versions of her 'God Bless the Child.'  The first was from her famous 'Rubicon Moment' during Hollywood Round 2 when she literally sang for her life after forgetting the lyrics of Kansas's 'Carry On My Wayward Son' in the group round.  She displayed great improvisational skills (the mark of a true jazz artist) and timing during this performance by bringing her secret weapon with her, the growl, and unleashing it at the perfect strategic moment to maximize effect and wow the judges.  The second was her impromptu performance with well known jazz trumpeter Irvin Mayfield when the Idols tour made its swing through New Orleans.  The video was posted by Casey and, though it looks a bit shaky at times, really captured the dark smoky jazz lounge vibe.  But best of all, Haley's voice drips like honey in this performance and, like fine vintage wine, it gets better with age.  I lost count on how many times I listened to it and it sounds better each time.  Lastly, three of Haley's performances from 2010 when she was with the Harper College Jazz Ensemble I uploaded on my YouTube Channel.  Enjoy these while we eagerly await her holiday treat to the fans, her duet of 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' with Casey Abrams due out later this month.  You can listen to a preview here: http://youtu.be/Lu9ADTojJaQ.  Sublime....