Relisten

View NotesSixteen years! It's hard to believe it's ben 16 years since Jed's first Holiday Revue in 2009, but here we are, back for another year! As always it's a benefit for a good cause, and this year's charity is Oceana, protectors of the world's oceans - a perfect fit for the Mystic Theatre venue whose proprietors are based in New Zealand.

Jed opens the festivities with his original ditty "Presents Are Fun," which is indicative of the heavy focus on original holiday tunes this year. There's a few new classics in the mix as well, including the second song of the night, "Skating" by Vince Guaraldi from the beloved Peanuts Christmas album. It's a great solo take on the jazz tune by Jed especially considering it's a debut for him. Things get rockin next with "Rockin Around The Christmas Tree," followed by a sentimental "I'll Be Home For Christmas." Up next is a fun more recent addition from the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday special, the weird and wacky "I Don't Know What Christmas Is," which Jed opens up into one of only two big jams of the night. It winds it's way into his poignant original "Christmas Night," followed by two more originals to close out the set, his lovely instrumental "Equinox," and his irreverant Swedish drinking song "Glogg Glogg." Celebrity Ted Danson treats us to an informational setbreak on Oceana and the work they are doing.

Second set opens with the always perilous "Here Comes Santa Claus," during which Jed takes pains to disclaim Santa's immediate arrival. This spawns the only other big jam of the night, which really takes off with a key change and a "Little Drummer Boy" tease. It slides into another original instrumental of Jed's called "Renewal." Another holiday debut is up next, with "Christmas Island," a perfect fit for the oceanic occasion, followed by "My Favorite Things" which is always sure to produce a hot, Coltrane-like extended solo section. "Silent Night" provides a bit of a breather, thought it also contains a pretty hot solo section, and then it's on to roasting chestnuts with "The Christmas Song." It wouldn't be a Holiday Revue wihtout some Rankin & Bass, and "Snow & Heat Miser" does the trick before Jed launches into one last original to close out the set, the always popular "Merry Christmas Asshole." The encore features "Feliz Navidad" with some 'Good Lovin' thrown in, followed by the obligatory high energy reprise "Presents Are Done" to close the show.

This is another fantastic holiday event, chock full of original Jed holiday tunes (can we hope for a Jed Luckless Holiday Album??) along with fun classics and even a few spicy jams! As always, good tunes and good will were in the air and a bunch of money was raised for Oceana. Definitely a good choice if you wanna spin some Holiday Jed this year. Enjoy!!