For those unaware, Swinging In The Holidays, the first offering from new jazz imprint Songbook Ink, arrives October 23rd, 2025 with a uniquely curated trove of classic holiday songs featuring an array of next gen and established vocalists and soloists, as well as fresh, sparkling arrangements.

Produced by Jazz at the Ballroom (JATB) and Songbook Ink founder, Suzanne Waldowski, the album, which was recorded in NYC, New Jersey and Oslo, is available in three formats: a CD that has 16 songs, the vinyl edition that has 12 songs, and the streaming version that has 18 songs (the 16 on the CD plus two bonus tracks).

Touting an international array of next gen vocalists and rising stars including Anaïs Reno, Lucy Wijnands, Olivia Chindamo, Wyatt Michael, Angela Gray, Vanessa Perea, Rob Edwards, Champian Fulton and Benny Benack, accompanied by Konrad Paszkudzki Trio, Felix Peikli Quartet (with Norwegian Jazz Orchestra Strings) and various rhythm sections, Swinging In The Holidays puts a new face on holiday music. Renowned clarinetist and tenor saxophonist Ken Peplowski joins the line up and contributes insightful and often fascinating liner notes.

“That’s what’s special about this album,” Waldowski says. “Yes, there are so many holiday albums out there; it seems to be on many artists’ bucket list. During the holidays, people want to get in a festive mood and listen to classic seasonal songs they know and love, but hunger for something new and different, just not too different.”

1. Baby, It’s Cold Outside
2. Winter Wonderland
3. Button Up Your Overcoat
4. Snow
5. Santa Baby
6. Mistletoe and Holly
7. That Holiday Feeling
8. Santa Clause is Coming to Town
9. Happy Holidays
10. Jingle Bells
11. I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
12. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
13. Silver Bells
14. The Christmas Song
15. We Wish You the Merriest
16. White Christmas

A vibrant trove of seasonal favorites, this rather delightful new recording opens on the smoothly sultry Baby, It’s Cold Outside, a dutifully rhythmic Winter Wonderland and Sinatra-esque Button Up Your Overcoat, the lavishly engaging Snow, a smoldering Santa Baby, before the finger-snapper Mistletoe and Holly, the harmonious That Holiday Feeling and a finger-snapping Santa Clause is Coming to Town are brought forth.

Along next is the low slung swing of Happy Holidays, the uplifting Jingle Bells and a delightfully preppy I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, and they are in turn backed seamlessly by a lush Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, the almost balladish Silver Bells, the smoothly low slung The Christmas Song, the lovely new Holiday set rounding out on the upbeat and joyful We Wish You the Merriest, coming to a close on a heavenly White Christmas.

“I think our album is going to go down as one of the new classic albums,” Waldowski continues, “because every song on it is a keeper and a beautiful one. That’s the beauty of a compilation. I am able to have certain musicians play the songs that bring out the best in their music—uptempo or a ballad or sentimental or real swinging. There are no fillers on this album. Every track earned its place as one of our top picks. And by matching the best musicians and vocalists for each song, allowing each to do what they do best, they in turn bring out the best of the music.”

Swinging in The Holidays [Official Promo Video]

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