A Christmas collection that's really hip and fun to play, Swing Into Christmas has been tailored to provide a unique opportunity for the instrumentalist exploring jazz to "join" with a first-rate jazz combo. The professional rhythm section was recorded live and is a great motivation for student practice time. The musicians involved are all experienced, well-known professionals. The CD contains two versions of each song. One includes a performance of the melody on alto saxophone with the combo, and the other consists of the rhythm section only. Designed with the younger, less experienced player in mind, Swing Into Christmas will encourage the jazz novice to learn how to improvise by "playing around" the melody; examples of this technique are included in the repeat section of each selection. The styles vary from standard swing to Latin/rock and ballad. Selections include: Angels We Have Heard on High, Deck the Halls, The First Noel, Go Tell it on the Mountain, Jolly Old St. Nicholas and more. 15 familiar Christmas tunes in all!