For Times Gone By

by | Dec 31, 2025 | Big Band, Holiday, Vocal

More than once I have said that it’s okay to look back, just be careful not to stare. Remember we are celebrating “out with the old” and “in with the new.” To set the mood for The Holiday, I’ve brought Days of Auld Lang Syne forward from our Jazz Scene Podcast page. It features everything from an ear toward the great dance bands of the 30s and 40s, to my 1989 interview with Fay Wray –– the lady who did all that screaming in the classic horror film “King Kong” –– and, at last, I have a reasonable explanation of just what the heck Auld Lang Syne actually means. All this is to offer my sincerest wishes for a most Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!

Days Of Auld Lang Syne

by Fred Masey | Jazz Scene Podcast

For Times Square New Years Eve ball drop watchers I’ve assembled a montage of ‘drops’ from years gone by, right through the new millennium. Next, Kenny G returns with Auld Lang Syne as the background for an historical retrospective, to which I’ve added an opening door to infinity, reminding us that somewhere out in space, all the material ever broadcast is still hanging around!

Merry Jazzmas!

by | Dec 18, 2025 | Holiday, Lighter Side, Vocal Group

At the (top) it’s Merry Christmas Charlie Brown! Here’s a medley of tunes from the beloved Charlie Brown Christmas Special, with accompanying video sequences and David Benoit’s magical Christmas fingers in solo performance! In the (middle), it’s a live performance of Snowfall from their best selling “The Christmas Concert” DVD. It’s a rich blend of mellow harmonies that smoothly combine all four voices into one as only The Manhattan Transfer can do. On the (bottom) the amazing Joey Alexander dazzles us with his piano prowess playing My Favorite Things, back when he was just 12!

A Marsalis-Torme Christmas

by | Dec 12, 2025 | Big Band, Holiday, Vocal

Jingle Bells is one of the most commonly sung and widely recognized Christmas songs in the world. It was written by James Lord Pierpont and published in 1857 as “The One Horse Open Sleigh.” It was originally thought to be a drinking song, and had no real connection to Christmas until it eventually became associated with winter and Christmas in the 1860s and 1870s. Wynton Marsalis and his Jazz Big Band (above), with one of the thousands of recordings of the song, gives it the most powerful treatment you’re ever likely to hear … horses at a full gallop! The Christmas Song (below), also known as “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire”, was written by 19-year-old Mel Tormé and 22-year-old Bob Wells on a scorching summer day in Los Angeles as a means of keeping cool (much like the composition of “White Christmas”). Ironically, while Torme wrote the music, it was Nat ‘King’ Cole who had, not one, but three popular recordings, one of which resides in the Library of Congress!

The Annual New Year’s Show

by | Dec 28, 2024 | Audio, Holiday, Video

While it’s okay to look back, be careful not to stare. Remember we are celebrating “out with the old” and “in with the new.” To set the mood for The Holiday, I’ve brought Days of Auld Lang Syne forward from our Jazz Scene Podcast page. It features everything from a peek at the great dance bands of the 30s and 40s, to my interview with Fay Wray –– the lady who did all that screaming in the classic horror film “King Kong” –– and, at last, a reasonable explanation of just what the heck Auld Lang Syne actually means. All this is to offer my sincerest wishes for a most Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!

Days Of Auld Lang Syne

by Fred Masey | Podcast #018

First, I’ve blended together some wintry pictures to accompany the spirited New York Voices rendition of the classic Let It Snow … written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne during a heatwave in July 1945! Next, Kenny G returns with Auld Lang Syne as the background for an historical retrospective, to which I’ve added an opening door to infinity that signals the perpetual changing of the calendar.

The Annual Christmas Show

by | Dec 21, 2024 | Holiday, Lighter Side, Orchestral

Christmas is a very special time of year and therefore calls for something a little different from our usual presentation.  I have brought The Christmas Show forward from our Jazz Scene Podcast page … featuring songs for the season by Maynard Ferguson, Tony Bennett, The Swingle Singers, Mel Torme, Count Basie, The Gene Harris Quartet, Lou Rawls, The Manhattan Transfer, Kenny G, Billy Taylor, Carol Sloan, plus a few of my own thoughts about the magic of Christmas. May you enjoy every minute of this musical Christmas card and have the Merriest of all Christmases with the ones you love!

— Fred

The Annual Christmas Show

by Fred Masey | Podcast 017

Merry Christmas Charlie Brown!  Here’s a medley of tunes from the beloved Charlie Brown Christmas Special, with accompanying video sequences, and David Benoit’s magical Christmas fingers in solo performance! Below that, Kenny G performs Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, with scenes from five of the best traditional holiday movies ever made in the background.

Manhattan Transfer Christmas II

by | Dec 14, 2024 | Holiday, Orchestral, Vocal Group

In 1969, Tim Hauser formed a vocal group in New York City called The Manhattan Transfer. The videos below feature the fourth edition of the group, consisting of Tim Hauser, Alan Paul, Janis Siegel, and Cheryl Bentyne, who performed mostly cool and smooth jazz, tinged with pop, soul, funk, and even acappella. These cuts are from The Transfer’s 2005 DVD, “The Christmas Concert.” (For more Manhattan Transfer Christmas, see our MOJ post of December 21,2018)

A special MHT arrangement of Mel Torme’s The Christmas Song.  Listen to the rich blend of mellow harmonies, smoothly combining all four voices into one.

Happy Holidays adds some upbeat flavor to the Christmas season that celebrates all the magic and merriment of the jolly old elf himself … and it’s all just ’round the corner!

The foursome captures the warmth of a cozy fire against the backdrop of a cold wintry night with their uniquely gentle version of Let It Snow. Oh … the song was written during a California heatwave!

Days Of Auld Lang Syne

by | Jan 1, 2024 | Holiday

Again, please forgive the long absence of new posts on our website.  Other obligations have caused me to temporarily divert my time and resources to a different endeavor, but I intend to resume regular music posts in the spring, with occasional random postings before that whenever possible. Meanwhile, continuing in the spirit of the season, and with gratitude for your continuing interest in the Mark Of Jazz, I have brought Days of Auld Lang Syne  forward from our Jazz Scene Podcast page … my way of wishing you a healthy and HAPPY NEW YEAR!  May 2024 bring you all the peace, joy, and success you could wish for.

Days Of Auld Lang Syne

by Fred Masey | Jazz Scene Podcast #018

The Christmas Show

by | Dec 24, 2023 | Holiday

Apologies for a long absence of new posts on our website.  Other obligations have caused me to temporarily divert time and resources elsewhere, but I intend to resume regular music posts in the spring, if not before.  Meanwhile, in the spirit of the season, and with gratitude for your hanging in there with me at the Mark Of Jazz, I have brought The Christmas Show forward from our Jazz Scene Podcast page. I’ll try to be timely in re-posting our New Years program as well. May you enjoy every minute of this musical Christmas card and have the Merriest of all Christmases with the ones you love!

The Christmas Show

by Fred Masey | Jazz Scene Podcast 017

Another Auld Lang Syne

by | Dec 30, 2022 | Audio, Holiday, Video, Vocal

Since our first posts back in 2017, Mark Of Jazz has treated entrance into the New Year nostalgically, even reverently.   With the current state of the world so uncertain and more than a little hectic, I thought we could all use a few gentler moments to ring in 2023.

In the video, Diana Krall quietly wonders What Are You Doing New Years Eve … while you can close your eyes and see the snowy evening and crackling fire as Ray Charles tries to make the case for Betty Carter to stick around because, Baby It’s Cold Outside. 

Baby It's Cold Outside

by Ray Charles & Betty Carter | Ray Charles and Betty Carter

Finally I have brought my Days Of Auld Lang Syne podcast forward from our Jazz Scene Podcast page. Auld Lang Syne is a song we all know and nearly always sing to say goodbye to the old year and welcome in the new … but what do those words mean?  It’s a jazzy adventure that answers questions about the tune that has played with people’s heads for generations.  Speaking of generations, we even have a nostalgic visit with Fay Wray … the lady who monkeyed around with that big ape in the ORIGINAL 1933 classic King Kong!

Here’s wishing you a HAPPY, HEALTHY and PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR … and hoping that you thoroughly enjoy our little MOJ celebration!

Days Of Auld Lang Syne

by Fred Masey | Jazz Scene Podcast

Days Of Auld Lang Syne

by | Dec 31, 2021 | Holiday, Lighter Side

Since our first posts five years ago, Mark Of Jazz has treated entrance into the New Year nostalgically, even reverently.   With the current state of the world so uncertain and somewhat confusing, I thought we could all use a few lighter moments, maybe even a grin or two. Auld Lang Syne is a song we all know and nearly always sing to say goodbye to the old year and welcome in the new … but what do those words mean?  Where did they come from?

The Peanuts Gang is always great fun and we launch into the New Year by partying with them, even though this performance doesn’t feature jazz.  Then, an a capella rendition of the tune by the original Straight No Chaser in a live 2009 concert at the Angel Orensanz Theatre in New York.  Finally I have brought my Days Of Auld Lang Syne podcast forward from our Jazz Scene Podcast page.  Yes … it IS jazz and answers the who, what when, where and why of the song that has played with people’s heads for generations and beyond.

Here’s wishing you a HAPPY, HEALTHY and PROSPEROUS 2022 … and hoping that you enjoy our little MOJ celebration!

Straight No Chaser was a group of college guys singing just for fun back in the 90s.  Their career skyrocked and, as often happens, personnel changed … but these are the 10 who started it all.

Days Of Auld Lang Syne

by Fred Masey | Jazz Scene Podcast