Once in a while a musician comes along with impecca… Read Full Bio ↴Beegie Adair Bio
Once in a while a musician comes along with impeccable technique, deep understanding of the jazz repertoire, an innate tendency to swing and the rare ability to communicate the heart and soul of a tune to listeners. That musician is Beegie Adair.
About her music Adair says, “Falling in love with jazz is like falling in love with a person, except with jazz you never get over it.” About Beegie (say B-G) Adair, what do others say?
Jazz great Helen Merrill salutes her “inventive jazz sense, her wonderful sense of time and improvised melody.”
Christopher Louden of Jazz Times magazine says Adair is “an accomplished artist with a delicate touch.”
The Los Angeles Times calls her music “Elegant.”
Entertainment News writes, “Beegie Adair is one of the finest piano players in the world.”
Intrigued? So are thousands of jazz fans, who agree with critics about Adair’s sophisticated and listenable jazz performances, and who have made her recordings among the biggest sellers in the jazz world.
Citing George Shearing, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson and Erroll Garner among her influences, Adair has recorded 24 CDs, ranging from Cole Porter standards to Frank Sinatra classics to romantic World War II ballads. Her 6-CD Centennial Composers Collection of tunes by Rodgers, Gershwin, Kern, Ellington, Carmichael and Berlin became an instant collectible classic when it was released in 2002.
Kentucky born and raised, Adair lives and records in Nashville – something of a surprise to people who associate the city solely with country music. In fact Nashville lives up to its “Music City” nickname by hosting a vibrant jazz scene, in which she has been a leading light for decades. A sought-after studio musician in her early days there, Adair accompanied such legendary performers as Chet Atkins, Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash – and also worked with Lucille Ball, Dinah Shore, Mama Cass Elliott and Peggy Lee.
Her guests on Improvised Thoughts, Beegie’s radio talk/music show on the local NPR affiliate, included such greats as Tony Bennett, Joe Williams, Marian McPartland, Benny Golson and Helen Merrill. She has guested on McPartland’s Piano Jazz show and has performed with Nat Adderley, Bill Watrous, Lew Tabackin, Terry Clarke, Urbie Green and Jim Ferguson, among many others.
When she’s not in the studio or appearing in clubs and concert halls around the country, Adair wears a variety of hats, from adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University to teacher and mentor at the Nashville Jazz Workshop. Recently she co-wrote and scored an innovative theatrical production, Betsy, which in April 2006 premiered off-Broadway in New York.
She has recorded eight projects for Village Square Records in Nashville; her most recent CDs are Sentimental Journey, a popular collection of World War II-era songs, and a solo piano recording, Quiet Romance.
She performs solo and with the Beegie Adair Trio, whose members include drummer Chris Brown, a veteran of the Maynard Ferguson ensemble, and bassist Roger Spencer, who has played with the Les Brown Band, Ray Conniff, the Page Cavanaugh Trio and Pete Jolly. They are, she says, “my main guys. They’re so tuned into the way I visualize music that it’s effortless to play with them.”
In clubs and concert venues from Los Angeles to New York, Beegie and her “main guys” win kudos from audiences and critics alike who appreciate her unique take on classic jazz. She fell in love with the music a long time ago, and indeed she’s never gotten over it -- a love affair the jazz world is much the better for.
The Christmas Song
Beegie Adair Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly.
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you!
The Christmas Song by Beegie Adair begins with classic holiday imagery, such as chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Jack Frost nipping at your nose. It also mentions Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir and people dressed up like Eskimos, which adds to the cozy and festive atmosphere. The lyrics then continue to describe how a turkey and some mistletoe help make the season bright and how tiny tots with their eyes all aglow have trouble sleeping from excitement.
The song then transitions into the anticipation of Santa Claus's arrival with his sleigh loaded with toys and goodies. Every child is eager to see if the reindeer can really fly. The song ends with a simple but heartfelt message of Merry Christmas to all, from kids as young as one to those as old as ninety-two. The lyrics capture the joy, excitement, and warmth of the holiday season while also acknowledging its traditions and beloved characters.
Line by Line Meaning
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Picture a cozy scene with the fire crackling and chestnuts roasting in a pan.
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
The cold winter air is like a playful creature nipping at your nose.
Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
The sound of carolers singing classic Christmas songs fills the air with joy and warmth.
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.
People are bundled up in warm winter gear, looking like they came from the Arctic.
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Traditional holiday symbols like a roasted turkey and sprigs of mistletoe bring cheer to everyone.
Help to make the season bright
These items contribute to the overall happiness and joy of the holiday season.
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Excited young children with wide eyes and hearts full of anticipation.
Will find it hard to sleep tonight.
It's difficult to fall asleep when you're so excited for Christmas morning.
They know that Santa's on his way
Kids have faith that Santa Claus is coming to deliver presents to them.
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
Santa has filled his sleigh with plenty of gifts and treats for children everywhere.
And every mother's child is gonna spy
Kids are so excited that they'll be up all night watching for signs of Santa's arrival.
To see if reindeer really know how to fly.
They can't wait to watch Santa's reindeer fly through the sky on Christmas Eve.
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
I want to express my holiday wishes to you in a heartfelt and sincere way.
To kids from one to ninety-two
This message is for everyone, young and old.
Although it's been said many times, many ways
This message has been shared in many different ways by many different people.
Merry Christmas to you!
But no matter how it's said, the meaning is clear: I wish you a very Merry Christmas!
Lyrics © Ceylon Records, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mel Torme, Robert Wells
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind