December 2005

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Bass
Christmas Album
Shout Factory

By Tad Hendrickson

Long out of print, this 1968 LP is pretty much the Ameri-achi music we'd expect from Alpert and Co. A mere 32 minutes long, the reissue features no extra tunes, but the always commercially minded Alpert was spot-on in his choices, as chestnuts like "Winter Wonderland," "Jingle Bells" and "Jingle Bell Rock" get the south-of-the-border treatment. Of particular note are the '60s-style choral arrangements of Shorty Rogers, which add a loungy counterpoint to this festival of pop-jazz. Highlights include a great version of "My Favorite Things" and a wobbly version of "The Christmas Song," sung by Alpert.