Guitar and Silence on a Winter Night
Burrell's version of Little Drummer Boy stands as the album's defining moment, precise and meditative.
Kenny Burrell recorded Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas (1966) during a period when Christmas albums were becoming a standard offering for jazz musicians, but few of them sounded like this. The album sits apart from the usual seasonal fare because Burrell approaches the material with restraint rather than warmth, with space rather than clutter. His guitar tone here is clean and unhurried — he's not trying to brighten up the holidays or add festive gloss. Instead, he lets each note breathe, which means long stretches of the album actually sound quiet by comparison to what was happening elsewhere in jazz at the time.
What makes this record work is how seriously Burrell takes the melodies. There's no irony in his approach, no winking at the listener. His arrangement choices emphasize clarity over arrangement complexity. The rhythm section provides support without dominating the space, which is unusual for a 1966 jazz record. AllMusic reviewer Michael G. Nastos gave the album 4½ stars and highlighted Burrell's "pensive, meditative, precise playing," which captures exactly what's happening here — this is a player thinking carefully about each phrase rather than improvising over changes.
The album peaked at number 15 on Billboard's Best Bets For Christmas chart in late 1968, which suggests it found an audience beyond the typical jazz listener. It's not a peak moment in Burrell's discography, and it's not the place to start if you're new to him, but it's a solid effort that works because he refuses to sentimentalize the material. If you already know his work and want to hear him in a different setting, this one rewards attention.
Who's playing
Kenny Burrellguitar
