No comments about 3 Tenors Christmas.

5 comments about Twelve Girls of Christmas.

1. Very good CD, absolute pleasure to listen when driving, studying, or just for relaxing. Builds the holiday mood too. Best songs would be Shiroi Kobito Tachi, Christmas Eve, All I want for Christmas is You and Santa Claus is coming to town.



2. This is a lovely addition to the 12 Girls Band catalog, and a very satisfying holiday CD. A few selections will be different for the holiday listener, but some very familiar - always with the stamp of the 12 Girls Band style and talent. The Girls have shown they have staying power, and their continuation with new releases, as well as their recent US tour have proven that they have universal appeal. A welcome addition to the world music scene.



3. We've been listening to this CD each nite over dinner this Christmas season.
   These are the best renditions of traditional Christmas tunes that I've heard in my 43 years. Two included songs,"Shiroi Koibito Tachi" and "Koibito Ga Santa Claus" are so pleasant they make me wish I lived in China itself. Twelve Girls Band is great music to dine to, relax to, or even while doing work around the house.



4. This was the first time I've bought or heard about the 12 Girls Band. I love this Christmas album--unique sound! It has the traditional Christmas melodies, newer ones, and Asian ones--all of them have a great sound. And I don't usually care to listen to instrumental-only music...but this one is different. I listened to it many times--even in August! I highly recommend this for your Christmas music collection.



5. Ordered the CD from a supplier in San Fransisco. Arrived in the UK within a week. Excellent service.

1 comments about An American Heritage of Spirituals.

1. This is a wonderful album with great gospel songs. I love listening to this christian music. It elevates my soul!

3 comments about Charpentier - In Nativitatem Domini Canticum · Messe de Minuit / Les Arts Florissants · Christie.

1. Well, at the time of writing this review the CD is not available, so I can't say anything about the recording. If its anything like the other wonderful Les Arts performances you won't be disappointed. Last night I went a Les Arts concert when they performed these great pieces. It was by far the best performance that I have been to. It was beautiful and touching and my only regret is that I didn't share the expirience with more family and friends than I did. This is wonderful music, and a great introduction to the French baroque. You must buy this record, it will change the way you listen to music. What a wonderful Advent expirience!



2. This is a terrific CD. The music is glorious and the performance is perfect. I wouldn't trade this CD for anything. I'm a big fan of Handel's Messiah and Bach's sacred choral works. These works by Charpentier -- in particular, the "Messe de Minuit" -- are right up there with those works, in my humble estimation. The more I listen to the CD -- and I have listened to it at least 20 times since I bought it last month -- the more I enjoy it. I'm particularly impressed by the performance. The recorders and other woodwinds sound great, and the choir is superb. I highly recommend this CD!



3. I'm very appreviated that William Christie and les arts florissants they gave me a another beauiful experience and let me enjoy Charpentier's music. I must thanks Christie's contribution to the French baroque music, the more is for Charpentier. For a long time, we enjoyed the oratorio music is by Handel's. And we understand Handel's oratoria in fact was shown and transformed in the anorther face of his opera. Today we seldom had a chance to listen the music of classic italy oratoria, that successed to Carissimi tradition. Of course, Charpentier learned with Carissimi but also be influenced by Lully's Louis period music, but that's why he had his own individual character, a perfect harmony chorus. It will smoothen human spirit easily.
   In sum, we could find a perfect combination of italy and french baroque in Charpentier's music. Listen this and I believe you would be hsi fans.

1 comments about The Animaniacs Wacky Universe.

1. I remembered hearing the countries of the world on the Animaniacs when I was in college and so now that I'm homeschooling, wanted to teach my 2nd grader. Found this CD and it was better than I had hoped! She memorized the states & capitals with no pain (reinforced with some interesting flash cards we already had) and sang that particular song at a Talent Show - the audience LOVED it!
   
   My favorite song is the Panama Canal. My only warnings are it has some of the now-typical-of-cartoons nastiness to others in the Drops of Rain song and some potty humor in the Traveling Maniacs song. We love this CD!

2 comments about Christmas with Placido Domingo.

1. Perhaps it is a good thing that this album, which thankfully plays for just over half-an hour, is only available in limited quantities. I am an unashamed Christmas music lover, and I saturate myself with it every year, but this is one of the few Christmas albums by a classical artist that I would never bother with again. I have, so far, never given another album as low a grade as I am giving this one.
   
   First off, let me state that I am a great fan of Mr. Domingo--he is unquestionably the greatest living operatic tenor, and a pioneer in the rediscovery of neglected Spanish operatic works. But he massacres Christmas music, unless it is a specifically classical piece that he is singing, such as the "Ave Maria". How would you like to hear "White Christmas" made to sound like an aria from "Tosca"? You can, if you listen to this album, and it isn't something to look forward to. Bing Crosby is the last singer Domingo would ever remind you of in this song.
   
   The trouble with Placido Domingo singing popular songs is that he simply has not mastered the art (unlike baritone Thomas Hampson) of not making them sound like operatic arias. He tends to sing the simplest numbers in a grand, operatic style, not in an intimate one, although he certainly knows when to vary the sound of his voice when actually singing an opera, as his many great recordings demonstrate. Just compare this recording with Thomas Hampson's excellent Christmas CD, still on the market after more than seven years. Even Luciano Pavarotti did it better; he realized that his heavily accented English would crucify the classic Christmas songs, and so stuck to singing Yuletide favorites in French, German, and Italian.
   
   Avoid this Christmas CD, and any re-issues of it, at all costs. The orchestral arrangements are nothing special, either.



2. Some claim that Domingo's voice is not suited for modern-day carols and Christmas tunes. I would like to state that this is only partly true. Are you listening to "I'll be Home for Christmas" on this album to hear it sung as you have heard a MILLION times before? If so, then yes you will be disappointed. True Domingo fans, however, such as myself see this album as a triumph of his career, albeit not as phenomenal as his operatic works.

   His mastery of the language give Silent Night a new and uplifting light, sung in three different languages. The Vienna Symphony Orchestra backs him up wonderfully and the new songs take on a classical 'jump' that is more fun then wrong. He is simply put the world's best operatic vocalist (in my own humble opinion) and his velvet tones bring out the true feeling of the season in these carols.

   I found his power in the song "O Joyful Children" truly moving, a passionate work beyond reproach. You will be touched. Another piece that particularly stands out is "Mary's Boy Child," a traditional island Christmas tune given a sweet and soft performance by Domingo and the orchestra. He sings softly and sweetly for the verses, then triumphantly and powerfully in the chorus. And those are just a few of the songs on the album.

   This is a must-own for Domingo fans, opera fans even, and most certainly for Christmas lovers around the world. My only complaint is the brevity of the album. Oh, would that we could be treated to more works by this outstanding performer!

2 comments about Prayer for Peace.

1. I'm not a big Marcus Roberts fan but this is definitely an all time favorite Christmas album of mine. Magnificent! The harder you listen to it the more incredible it sounds- the sign of great playing. Hard to believe this is out of print- grab a cheap copy and enjoy!



2. I am a jazz fanatic and a jazz extremist, but most of my collection has to do the jazz artists of the 1940s-1960s (Mingus, Buddy Rich, Dizzy Gillespie ect.). I have very little from the younger generations. This contemporary artist, Marcus Roberts, is something really special.
   
   Roberts creates a grand, almost orchestral sound from his piano. His creativity is astounding: a little bit of Monk; a little bit of Joplin; even Liberace; blended together with a lot of blues and gospel feeling into something that really swings and is something all his own.
   
   Each piece is also different, touching upon a variety of moods, colors and emotions.
   
   Even if you don't like Christmas music, or think that your collection of Christmas music is already sufficient: still order this CD, because these versions are unique; almost like concert pieces.
   
   I am not exagerating when I say that Marcus Roberts is one of the greatest and most entertaining and thought-provoking pianists ever, of any genre (and I've heard most of them from Horowitz to Brubeck to Glenn Gould and Monk).

5 comments about The Holly and the Ivy: Carols from Clare College.

1. Lovely. So classic and ethereal. Perfect with Christmas dinner, or quiet card games by the fire.



2. I bought this album through Columbia mail order, and it instantly became one of my favorite CDs in my collection of over 2000. When it was scratched beyond playability, I immediately re-purchased it. I have almost everything else John Rutter has put out, as well as the Dale Warland singers from the US.
   The music is simply ethereal, and the songs are not the overplayed tunes we hear over and over and over.
   My two complaints with the album are that some of the tracks are hard to hear because the singing is so quiet and the sound level is uneven between tracks, and some of the tracks have Rutter's cutesy, saccharine arrangements drowning out the singing (Donkey Carol is the protoypical, and one I frequently skip).
   However, the album is so beautiful otherwise, with the Wexford Carol, and the nearly inaudible Jesus Christ The Apple Tree, and several other tracks, that I still have to give it a 5 star rating.



3. I have just recently started to explore the world of choral music and I am so glad to have purchased this CD. To use an old-fashioned term, it is truly delightful. The song 'Donkey Carol' is my favorite and it is sure to bring a smile to the face of even the most misanthropic scrooge.



4. Whatever tensions you may have this Christmas, they will begin to melt away when you hear this music. I find myself thinking about this CD throughout the year; I don't know any other piece of music that does that to me. The songs go from reflective to joyful. As a matter of fact, my parakeets burst into song themselves when they hear, "King Jesus hath a garden" and "Donkey Carol". Careful listeners can hear a donkey bray during the Donkey Carol -- great fun. John Rutter and the Clare College Choir have given us a sterling musical gift.



5. I bought this CD as a replacement for the old vinyl recording I got years ago. This is one of my favorite Christmas albums. If you like John Rutter and his choral Christmas works, then you will want to own this CD. There are newer recordings since this was originally recorded (and I have them, too), but this was one of the first ones that I heard and it has sentimental value. And, once again, Amazon's price is the best.

5 comments about Christmas Time with Oleta.

1. I am a huge Oleta Adams fan and I wanted to love this CD.
   
   I know Christmas CD's don't have the production budget that a mainstream CD might have. I know that Oleta Adams recorded it at her studio at home and these two factors may have worked against it.
   
   First off what I loved about this CD.
   
   Track 5
   Breath of Heaven
   
   Track 7
   There's Still My Joy.
   
   both of these tracks sound like they could have easily been lifted from Oleta's 5 star gospel CD Come Walk with Me. Just Oleta and piano and that magnificent voice.
   
   I did like track 4 I Wonder as I Wonder which Oleta puts her own spin on this timeless classic.
   
   The rest of this sounds like Oleta and her beautiful voice singing to a kareoki track.
   
   I would have loved Oleta to record CD using a live band or orchestra.
   
   Still there is enough excellence on this CD to make this a part of your collection. After all Oleta can never do wrong in my book.



2. Oleta Adams gives us another beautiful CD with her personal touch on these songs.



3. Oleta has produced a beautiful Christmas CD. The music will be appreciated from the the very young to the very mature. If you like music you will like this.



4. For those of us who love the fantastic voice of Oleta Adams this CD will not disappoint you. As with all of her music she delivers a song like no one else can. It is a MUST have for your Christmas music collection. Once you hear her delivery on these songs you will feel like you have received a true blessing, especially from the song entitled "Breath of Heaven". ENJOY!



5. When she opens her mouth to sing it is like hearing from heaven. She has such presence. She brings new life to every song. The CD is a wonderful mixture of traditional and nontraditional carols.

2 comments about Verve Presents: Very Best of Christmas Jazz.

1. I bought this cd last year and I love it!! This cd is a collection of classic performances by Verve's elite. The opening track is not Frank DeVol, who did indeed produce the track, it's Ella Fitzgerald. Another error found on this site is the artist listing for "The Christmas Song". It's Mel Torme's performance here. A couple of tracks reappear here, they were featured on Verve's release of "Have Yourself A Jazzy Little Christmas" probably repeated here because of artist merit and performance. One such noteable track is Oscar Peterson's moving rendition of "A Child Is Born."
   Verve released a contemporary jazz Christmas album a few years ago and it featured such artists as Betty Carter and Shirley Horn. Shirley's performance of "Winter Wonderland" was lifted from that project and is here. The song is treated like any other Shirley would do, and the result is, well, seductive in an innocent way, the Shirley way. "'Zat You, Santa Claus" by Louis Armstrong has been featured on many budget Christmas releases, but the version here is so well restored it sounds like it was just recorded; the mastering of this disc as a whole is breathtaking. Jimmy Smith's "Jingle Bells" is pure camp, the song arranged as a Hammond b3 piece, "Silent Night" is made even more sacred by Dinah Washington's searing vocal.
   This album is an excellent highlight of holiday performances by the living legends and those who have passed, of jazz and should not be overlooked by fans of the jazz genre and Christmas music.



2. No Christmas should be without this CD! I had heard many of the songs before, but there were a lot of new ones on this CD that I enjoy. Every song is great!