A new holiday song with a rat pack vibe

Just in time for the holidays, Washington State University Emeritus Professor of Music Greg Yasinitsky has a new song, “It’s Santa!,” which is now streaming on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, Deezer, and more. 

“It’s Santa!” has a fun, swinging rat pack vibe of vocals backed by a roaring big band. The band is Yasinitsky’s JAZZ Band and the song’s vocals were recorded in two versions—one with vocalist Horace Alexander Young (MA ’83 music), and another with the JECCA Vocal Jazz Ensemble, directed by Kathleen Hollingsworth, director of choral activities at Clackamas College. Listen to both versions below.

The recordings feature WSU School of Music emeritus faculty members Yasinitsky, who plays saxophone, vocalist Young, and drummer David Jarvis, along with current WSU faculty members Sarah Miller and A.J. Miller, trombones. 

Also featured are saxophonists David Larsen, director of bands at Spokane Falls Community College — who recently completed his doctorate at WSU — and undergraduate music major Thomas Wieland, performing with John Harbaugh, trumpet professor at Central Washington University, and University of Idaho faculty members Vern Sielert, trumpet; Kate Skinner, piano; and Josh Skinner, bass. 

“It’s Santa!” has a fun, swinging rat pack vibe: vocals with a roaring big band.

The song was commissioned by the BYU Idaho Jazz Band and Vocal Jazz Ensemble for their annual Christmas Concert. It was performed on last year’s Washington Idaho Symphony holiday concert by the WIS Jazz Band, directed by Yasinitsky.

Yasinitsky, one of the most published composers in jazz, served in the School of Music for 40 years as coordinator of jazz studies and professor of saxophone and composition, including seven years as director of the school.

Top photo: Greg Yasinitsky and the cover art for “It’s Santa!”.

Originally posted at WSU Insider