It’s Christmas Eve Tonight, Jazz Scan
December 14, 2025
Reviewed by Derric Bang

James Judson’s four-track EP, It’s Christmas Eve Tonight, finds him backed by a 17-piece jazz band and nine-piece string section; the result is a firecracker. Judson is a playful, cheery and enthusiastic singer, very much in the Sinatra mold, and he must be immensely popular during live performances. 

I’d normally raise a skeptical eyebrow over the blend of jazz band and string section, but engineer Tim Sonnefeld also handled the string arrangements and (with Justin Flynn) horn arrangements, and the result never loses its all-important swing.

The set gets off to a roaring start with “White Christmas,” backing Judson’s lyrics with well-placed horn fanfares. He pauses for a terrific instrumental interlude by the entire band, which segues to Aaron Janik’s sweet trumpet solo. Judson picks up the tune again, and everybody concludes the song with a flourish.

“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” is a smooth, mid-tempo 4/4 ballad, with more emphasis on strings. Judson again yields the stage for a solo, this time by tenor saxman Bob Reynolds. This arrangement feels a lot like Sinatra, and the tempo slows for Judson’s heartfelt finale.

The EP’s title track is an original: a sweetly romantic “story song” focused on the joy of sharing Christmas traditions with a loved one. Unison horn “pops” echo the initial lyrics, then introduce an instrumental bridge that yields to another tenor sax solo by Reynolds. Judson resumes the lyrical narrative, which briefly slows for what seems like a wistful finale … until the tune bursts back into life for its finale.

Judson closes with an initially soft, contemplative reading of “Silent Night,” until bassist Mike Gurrola guides the tune into gentle, mid-tempo swing; Gary Matsumoto’s piano and Reynolds’ tenor sax comp soothingly behind Judson’s vocal, building to a lush finale.

My only complaint: Why just an EP, James? I want an entire album