Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, The Partyka Brass Quintet, Carla’s Christmas Carols (Watt). Bley arranges nine classic carols with tenderness, wit, harmonic brilliance, wide dynamic range and a wry sense of nostalgia. She adds two of her own pieces, the gorgeous “Jesus Maria” and “Hell’s Bells”, a joyous concoction on “I Got Rhythm” changes. Swallow’s bass work, as always, is perfection. Prepare to be captivated by the brass ensemble and by the solos of trombonist Adrian Mears, trumpeter Axel Schlosser and hornist Christine Chapman.