WAX ON Christmas Special

The revolutionary recordings and iconic artists that shaped jazz.

Christmas songs have a special place in all our hearts, and even civilians who would never listen to jazz in normal times will cock an ear to the great crooners at this time of year.

The Christmas album plays a big part in the history of vinyl recordings, with even the most unlikely of artists (such as Miles Davis) required to produce their own version of Christmas cheer as part of their record deal during the mid-century heyday of many big labels.

But what are the best Christmas jazz tunes, and how did they come to be recorded?

Join Irish Times jazz critic Cormac Larkin and his expert panel for a festive WAX ON listening party, and hear Christmas jazz classics from Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett, but also some less expected seasonal offerings from the likes of Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and Dexter Gordon.

The monthly WAX ON series is an intimate listening party, placing the needle in the groove of a collection of favourite jazz albums, as well as an intimate space for story-telling hosted by Irish Times jazz critic Cormac Larkin with a panel of musicians, media and jazz aficionados.