Looking For Examples Of Funky Christmas Tunes

[soundchaser59]

Anybody have links to clips or tubes of traditional Christmas tunes being played in non-traditional arrangements? Names of bands I can search?

I'm hoping to find the "old favorites" (not Rudolph or Burl Ives, please) that are done in a jazzy or funky style, smooth jazz, or funky rock sound. Think Transiberian Orch meets Tom Scott and Dave Grusin with Stevie Ray and Tommy Emmanuel on guitars, somthing like that.

I'm just hungry for some traditional songs that don't sound like the Christmas at church. Maybe we can persuade Chuck D'aloia to do a Christmas cd?

[StanG]

James Brown has a Christmas cd.

[JamonGrande]

Love that cd. "Christmas is Love" is where it's at for me. Such a heavy groove. What a fantabulous way to celebrate the season... yeaow!!

[TwoTubMan]

The funk is strong in these four.

[Sweetfinger]

Originally Posted by StanG

James Brown has a Christmas cd.

Unfortunately that isn't what the OP is after. "Funky Christmas" I got. TRADITIONAL non-secular Christmas songs done funky.... kinda tough. I think the Booker T vid sort of proves why there isn't more material like that- it just doesn't work very well. I could see a Ska Christmas, though.
There are a couple local discs called "Merry Arizona" that might be of use to the OP but there's no way to hear them before buying. They're probably cheap on Amazon if you buy used.
Personally, I'm a big ol' fan of the Bellrays Christmas disc:

Not what the OP is asking for either, but definitely gets rotation hereabouts.

[soundchaser59]

Thanks, good stuff. I'm pretty open to suggestion here. I didn't want to say it up front, but.....I'm looking for influences here. I want stuff to influence me in arranging my own versions of Christmas tunes. These suggestions are pretty much right up my alley, a good start at least.

Is there any Tom Scott Christmas? Or Rare Earth Christmas? Edgar Winter?

[Valve]

Don't know this fellow/group, it turned up on YouTube. A different take . . .

[Jove]

Guys, dig www.hipchristmas.com and click on Jukebox. A playlist of about 400 off-the-wall christmas renditions. Rockabilly, Funk, Rap, Punk, Blues, anything you can think of. The Jukebox gets constant rotation at any xmas partys I may be throwing. Some songs you gotta skip over (EEK!) but most of them are great.

Great thing to steal covers from for those holiday gigs.

J

[Custom Deluxe]

Originally Posted by StanG

James Brown has a Christmas cd.

One of the greatest X-mas recordings ever.

[Rob G]

I recommend Steve Lukather's Santamental.

[boonhogganbeck]

Ray Charles has a funky versio of "Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer".

[arem]

Not what the OP is after, but one that I would hope some of you cover band guys will learn for the season:

[healthsman]

The Jukebox gets constant rotation at any xmas partys I may be throwing. [IMG]http://www.****.info/g.gif[/IMG]

[sgv]

Check out some of Gary Hoey's Christmas arrangements. Many are fairly guitar-driven traditional arrangements...yet, for others he can really stretch.

Moster player and super nice guy.

[soundchaser59]

Originally Posted by sgv

Check out some of Gary Hoey's Christmas arrangements. Many are fairly guitar-driven traditional arrangements...yet, for others he can really stretch.

Moster player and super nice guy.

Just found him, great stuff! Thanks!