Holiday Recordings : It’s Ring-a-Ling Recordings Time : JAZZ : Hawk and Harry Deliver the Goods for a Cool Yule

Calendar music critics and writers present their opinions on the year’s recordings to help you through the holiday season. Some of the reviews may assist the gift-impaired: See our Top 40 Shopping Guide for the nation’s most popular or critically acclaimed albums, and subsequent tips on the year’s best children’s recordings, the class of classical releases, which boxed sets are wothwhile (and which are merely long and expensive) and a spin through jazz and pop holiday music. The ratings range from one star (poor) to four (excellent). Five stars are reserved for outstanding historical retrospectives.

* * * 1/2 Various Artists, “Christmas Songs,” Milestone. This first-rate, 12-track sampler is highlighted by several ace performances by such greats as Chet Baker, Bill Evans, Tom Harrell and Coleman Hawkins recorded between 1953 (Baker’s “Winter Wonderland”) and 1993 (Anita O’Day’s “The Christmas Waltz”).

Harrell’s “Christmas Song” is done as a bossa nova, and the gifted trumpeter’s solo goes from murmurs--via sly, hesitated notes--to exclamations, in the form of kinetic, serpentine bursts. Baker, working with the Lighthouse All-Stars that include Russ Freeman (piano) and Max Roach (drums) all but melt the snow on their simmering, and, happily, barely recognizable “Wonderland”; pianist Red Garland’s light, magical touch and demur then flashing lines spark his interpretation of the same tune.

Evans’ unaccompanied “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” takes the tune far beyond its mundane beginnings, hitting chords that shimmer like lights winking on a holiday tree.

Versions that stick closer to their forebears include guitarist Ron Affif’s golden-toned take on “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and Hawkins’ regal version of “Greensleeves.”

* * * Various Artists, “GRP Christmas Collection, Vol. III,” GRP. Though it leans a bit toward the pop side of jazz, this 10-tune album has a few ditties that might have shelf life after Dec. 25.

For instance, there’s Tom Scott’s horn-driven version of Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad,” which without a lyric comes across as a snappy funk number with a get-up-and-strut insouciance. Pianist Ramsey Lewis’ version of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” is given a definite jazz touch by Henry Johnson’s solid guitar solo.

More strictly in the holiday flavor are B.B. King’s appropriately grainy vocal and steely guitar solo on “Merry Christmas, Baby,” and Diane Schuur’s tender take on “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” where Chuck Findley’s natty fluegelhorn stands out.

Elsewhere, Billy Taylor gives “Deck the Halls” a spirited swing run-through, while the Yellowjackets’ “Go Tell It on the Mountain” has a country-funk flair.

* * * 1/2 Harry Connick Jr., “When My Heart Finds Christmas,” Columbia. Connick includes four originals and some obscure chestnuts in this appealing, 14-song assemblage. The pianist-singer’s “(It Must’ve Been Ol’) Santa Claus” is done in an uplifting New Orleans Second Line rhythm, while his “I Pray on Christmas” is delivered gospel style, with piano, vocal and accompanying male chorus. Four tunes--among them “Sleigh Ride” and “Let It Snow”--are outfitted with a big-band backing--feature Connick in his Sinatra mode.

* * * Lou Rawls, “Christmas Is the Time,” Manhattan. Even some nonbelievers might be moved to shivers the way Rawls turns his generous tenor-baritone to such Christmas carols as “Joy to the World,” where a backbeat and six backup singers give it a gospel tinge, and “O Come All Ye Faithful,” underpinned with a Basie-like swing. The bossa-rock rhythm and Rawls’ gutsy feeling makes “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” almost sound like Ray Charles doing “Hit the Road Jack,” while “Silver Bells” is done in 4/4, not as a waltz, and might better be called “Bluesy Bells.” However, “Sleigh Ride” and “Winter Wonderland” are tres ordinaire .

* * * Sam Pilafian and Frank Vignola, “Christmas With Travelin’ Light,” Telarc. A tuba player and banjoist-guitarist tackling the songs of Christmas? You bet, and it works. Vignola, a Django Reinhardt die-hard on guitar, and Pilafian, who offers a big, plump sound, make such evergreens as “Winter Wonderland” and “Jingle Bells” stand up and quietly shout. Ken Peplowski adds some fine clarinet solos.

* * * Gregg Kaukas, “Home for the Holidays,” Nightowl. The L.A.-based pianist gives “Little Drummer Boy” a pleasing brightness and lends spine to “We Three Kings.” Shelby Flint, her voice filmy and ethereal, is a considerable pleasure on several selections, including four heartfelt originals.

* * Kim Pensyl, “A Kim Pensyl Christmas,” GRP. Keyboardist Pensyl is on good footing when he sticks with the piano and plays in a straightforward manner, as on the medley that includes “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “White Christmas.” But when he takes on the role of a one-man orchestra, using synthesizers and sounding like Disneyland’s Main Street Electrical Parade, he falls on his keister.