Merry Mixmas is an album of remixes of Christmas lounge classics.

While the remixers featured on this CD draw on a wealth of classic material, including tracks by Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Earth Kitt, Julie London and Vince Guaraldi, the results are uneven.

At worst, the remixes sound like the remixer did little more than press play on a drum machine. Does the world really need to hear Nancy Wilson’s take on The Christmas Waltz chopped into 4/4 time? On the other hand, the CD does feature some interesting remixes, especially the take on Lou Rawl’s version of  Have Yourself A Merry Christmas. It reharmonizes the original, adding tension and giving it a very different feel.

All-in-all, Merry Mixmas is not an essential collection, but will instead offer listeners unfamiliar with the original tracks a painless introduction to a bunch of classics from some great jazz/lounge artists.

Tracks

• Winter Wonderland (Bent Remix) – Bing Crosby
• All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth) (MJ Cole Remix) – The Nat King Cole Trio
• Baby, It’s Cold Outside (Arp Remix) – Dean Martin
• Sleigh Ride (The Latin Project Remix) – Ella Fitzgerald
• Santa Baby (Alexkid & DJ Sleep Remix) – Eartha Kitt
• Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Awayteam Remix) – Lou Rawls
• Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (Suedojazz Mix) – Lena Horn
• Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer Mambo (Malibu Remix) – Billy May
• (Everybody’s Waitin’ For) The Man With The Bag (Thunderball Mix) – Kay Starr
• I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (Psapp’s Lady Remix) – Les Brown And His Orchestra
• Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (Q-Burns Abstract Message Remix) – Johnny Mercer
• The Christmas Waltz (AwayTeam Remix) – Nancy Wilson
• I’d Like You For Christmas (Ursula 1000 Remix) – Julie London
• The Merriest (Thunderball Mix) – June Christy
• Christmas Time Is Here (Markus Enoshson Remix) – Vince Guaraldi Trio