Brian Setzer's Dig That Crazy Christmas is proof that behind every rockabilly hepcat is a big band leader. Mixing originals with seasonal faves, Setzer and his orchestra manage to swing, rock, roll and otherwise nail such gems as "Dig That Crazy Santa Claus," "Zat You Santa Claus" (popularized by Louis Armstrong at Christmas long past) and "Cool Yule." He even tackles an instrumental arrangement of "My Favorite Things" that allows him to show off his guitar chops to great effect. Even the unexpected "Angels We Have Heard on High"--played at a galloping tempo, with an angelic chorus and loads of shiny brass--fits into Setzer's big bad sack. His original tunes (and seasonal rewrite of "in the Mood" called "Getting' in the Mood for Christmas") such as "Santa Arrives in A Hot Rod" and "Hey Santa' will be right at home, or in the cocktail lounge, or that New Year's Eve Party that you will have trouble remembering. Recommended fun. --Martin Keller
