Big Band Holidays II includes an electric, never-before-released solo piano performance of "O Tannenbaum" by Aretha Franklin. The Queen of Soul sang the holiday classic in English and German, while accompanying herself on piano, at a surprise performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center's 2015 Big Band Holidays concert. "O Tannenbaum, " exclusively on Big Band Holidays II, is one of only a handful of tracks to be released since Franklin's passing on August 16, 2018. Additional guests on Big Band Holidays II include some of today's commanding new voices in jazz: Catherine Russell, Veronica Swift, Denzal Sinclaire, and Audrey Shakir.
