“The fiddling Viking,” Svend Asmussen, passed away yesterday at age 100. He’s shown here playing the Russian standard, “Dark Eyes.”
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[Music] Jimmy Scott – Sycamore Trees
Little Jimmy Scott suffered from Kallmann Syndrome, but he turned this into a benefit, developing one of jazz’s most unique voices.
[Music] Perry Como – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
As Advent draws to a close, we prepare the house for Christmas celebrations with Perry Como booming in the background. May you and yours who celebrate on the Gregorian Calendar Sunday have a quiet peaceful one.
[Music] Gene Autry – Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Gene Autry almost got snookered into calling Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Randolph. He dodged a bullet.
[Music] Bing Crosby – White Christmas (Full Album)
After launching with Bing and David Bowie, here’s the King of the Crooners singing traditional Christmas tunes.
[Music] Hotel Pennsylvania Music (Phil Spitalny) – Happy Days Are Here Again
Well, it’s not for everybody. Few, in fact. But, it’s nice to be reminded that there were happy times, and will be again. This slice of Americana was penned and performed by Phil Spitalny and his band.
[Music] Toots Thielemans – Estate
Jean-Baptiste Frédéric Isidor, Baron Thielemans, known to millions of fans as ‘Toots‘, passed away yesterday at the age of 94. If you were ever a fan of Sesame Street as a child, you already know his work, as the whistling you hear is his, uncredited.
Rest in peace, Toots.
[Music] John Cage And Sun Ra’s Legendary Experimental Encounter – Electronic Beats
Electronic Beats, run by T-Mobile, posted this amazing video, and an accompanying article, on the meeting between composer John Cage and psychedelic jazz genius Sun Ra.
[Music] Astor Piazzolla – Woe
I have a love/hate relationship with the music of Astor Piazzolla. His music is stunning and sensual, but, as I’m sure many of you have done, I tied the artist to a person who left my life 5 years ago. Still, as I prepare to enter my 46th year in a few hours, it’s time to remove all melancholy and prepare for a fresh year in my life.
[Music] Django Reinhardt – Minor Swing
A bit of Manouche music, courtesy of the legendary Django Reinhardt.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 