Do you know how Christmas cards are made? They need pictures.
Pictures can't complete them I'm afraid; They need greetings.
Greetings say what's in your heart, that's what they are for,
But when loved ones are apart Christmas cards need more.
Do you know how Christmas cards are made? They need pictures and greetings,
Sunshine and raindrops, Snowflakes and reindeer,
Friendship and kindness, And most of all, they need love...
- Written by Hal David
This week’s journey was supposed to take us to Blue Mitchell, but it’s Christmas after all. So I thought I’d change course.
This Christmas will be my first Christmas without my beloved mother, who passed away last April. I am still sad and every day I think about her, and my father who passed on many years ago. But this Christmas, my mother is particularly close to my heart.
She grew up in London during WWII and as a child was terrorized by the Nazi bombings. Her neighborhood was bombed on more than one occasion. She told me that when the sirens went off and they had to go to the bomb shelters, her mother would yell out, “Where’s Sylvia? Where’s Sylvia? Quick, find Sylvia!” Sylvia was not my mom’s sister, it was the family chicken - during the war, eggs were hard to come by.
Later, during the Korean War, she met and married my dad, an Air Force Sergeant stationed in London. They had their first child in London, my oldest brother Paul. When my dad was accepted to the University of Colorado on the G.I. Bill, he left early to make arrangements for his new family in Boulder. When things were ready, my mom with their new baby boarded the RMS Queen Mary and left her home and family in England to sail to the States.
I can’t imagine how difficult that must have been. But this shows the character of my mother - she was an incredibly strong and resourceful woman. Many years later in the summer of 1962, while my dad was working at Aerojet General in Sacramento, California, I was born.
My mom loved Christmas. We always celebrated in grand fashion. So it seems a Christmas song is in order. However, my favorite Christmas song comes from a very unlikely source. It is Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown?, from the James Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
This is probably my favorite Bond movie and certainly my favorite Bond soundtrack. I remember watching this around Christmastime when I was a kid. It has a winter and Christmas theme, so it played on the local TV station during the holiday season.
In the movie, I like how the song plays in the background of a Swiss Christkindlmarket, as Blofeld’s henchmen, led by the wicked Frau Bunt, chase after Bond, who is finally saved by his recent lover Tracy (Diana Riggs). They are married later in the film - the only time Bond was married in the Ian Fleming novels. Here’s my favorite Christmas song sung by Danish singer-actress Nina van Pallandt:
The simple beauty of the song juxtaposed with the drama of the chase works for me. Often, along with the feelings of joy that come with the season, we have feelings of tension and sadness - as is the case for me this Christmas.
Interestingly, another song from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Louis Armstrong’s We Have All The Time In The World, has made a recent resurgence in the newest Bond film, No Time To Die. Armstrong recorded the song in the fall of 1969, while in ill health. Phil Ramone, the song’s recording engineer, later recalled, “He was not in good shape by then, which I wasn’t expecting; I expected him to ad lib a lot. But that gentility was what I noticed immediately - the charm, the warmth, and the ‘hello, guys,’ talking to the band.” Co-songwriter, along with John Barry, Hal David was at the recording session and recalls, “He was so frail, and I thought, my goodness, can he do it? But I remember the thrill I felt the moment that first line came out. It was so wonderful.”
Interestingly, the trumpet was not played by Armstrong, but rather a studio musician.
My mom loved that song. Along with this one, she loved another Louis Armstrong classic, What A Wonderful World. She kept a Louis Armstrong CD in the car and often played these songs. I can still see her singing along with a big smile on her face.
On many occasions, my mom and I would order Guinness when offered at a bar or restaurant. In particular English fashion, she always ordered a half-pint. So with that in mind, I’d like to propose a toast:
Here’s to my mom, to you, and to your loved ones in the spirit of whatever holiday you celebrate:
Next week, On that Big River called Jazz, it’s the new year. So I’ll pause for a moment, reflect, and send a musical New Year’s Greeting. Then we’ll restart our journey and dip our paddles into the waters of another great, but lesser known, trumpet player, “the fabulous Blue Mitchell.”
If you like what you’ve been reading and hearing so far on our journey and would like to share this with someone you think might be interested in learning more about our great American art form: Jazz, just hit the “Share” button at the bottom of the page. Also, if you feel so inclined, become a subscriber to my journey by hitting the “Subscribe” button here:
Also, find my playlist on Spotify: From Fred Astaire to Sun Ra.
Feel free to contact me at any time to talk shop. I welcome and encourage that.
Until then, keep on walking….