4 comments about Big Band Christmas.

1. Rob McConnell has created one of the best Christmas CD's for Jazz fans every produced. He has brought Jazz to a new level with his compulations in this CD. Songs such as "What are you doin' New Years Eve" and "Silver Bells" are tunes I will listen to all year around. This CD is a must for your Christmas collection.



2. Only Concord Jazz could come up with this fresh sound of Holiday music, the traditional big band genre is missing in todays world of music. The young crowd really love the new groups that have tried to duplicate this never to be forgotten era of the '40s. There have not been many Christmas recordings by big bands, but thanks to the talent of Rob McConnell's great arrangements and performance by his Boss Brass, swinging and taking some harmonically liberties we have the past right before us.

   McConnell arranges seventeen songs and carols, some traditional and a few new, but the warmth and feeling of this festive time of the year is the highlight...try it and see if you don't agree - "BIG BAND CHRISTMAS", is a sure stocking-stuffer for your fireplace!

   Total Time: 59:49 on 11 Tracks...Concord Jazz 4844...(1998)




3. 
   Christmas Music is part of the American Way of Life. Year after year, American people get full of joy and the pleasure of listening to Christmas Music becomes a must.
   
   Also artists from many different styles and their labels are very conscious about it. It is rare to find an artist from the traditional pop scene who has not recorded at least one Christmas Album. Unfortunately, this Christmas tradition in American music scene is fading away among young artists though sales keep hot in the season. This proves traditional pop artists have got a market niche which maintains year after year even selling the very same album that has been recorded many decades ago.
   
   Repertoire is basically the same and this is another peculiar facet of Christmas Music. This is an indicator of the traditional `American way of buying music'. It is commonplace in the USA that many different traditional pop artists record the same hit song in a season. I remember one well-known song that has been recorded by Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Peggy Lee, and even Astrud Gilberto, besides its sensational original take. This shows Americans like to listen to that same song or repertoire as recorded specifically by their favorite artists.
   
   It is different than the music industry and customers' mind in Brazil, for instance. If an artist records the same songs as other one does, he is minorly categorized as a `cover artist'. This is a bad category which labels the artist a minor artist, lacking creativeness as for Brazilian market parameters.
   
   It is very interesting, anyway, to listen to the same repertoire as recorded by so many different artists from so many different times under so many different arrangement concepts. Comparison arises inevitably. Somehow, a delicious comparison. What's the best `Jingle Bells' from Johnny Mathis to Diana Krall? Who's recorded the most creative `Silent Night' - Wynton Marsalis or Nat King Cole? There is a killer `Jingle Bells' recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra under arrangement by Michel Legrand and with Jean Pierre Rampal on flute. Ooooh God!
   
   Year after year, those albums are made available by continuous reissuing or not. Some even keep in the label's catalog on and on even out the Christmas season.
   
   Sometimes a different album comes into the scene and this is the case for this `Big Band Christmas' recorded, arranged and played by one of the most creative big band leaders in the place, the Canadian Mr. Rob McConnell.
   
   Some uncommon and some very common songs make up the program. Here what matters is the creative arrangements and the medley combinations Mr. McConnell loves to introduce in his albums.
   
   Common Christmas songs here include `Let It Snow', `Silent Night', 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas', and others, all wrapped in original medley arrangements that make the difference. The world Christmas anthem by Mel Tormé `The Christmas Song' shows up here too, in a sensational instrumental take. Would you prefer it in a vocal take? I prefer both.
   
   This is a great Christmas album. You'll specially love it if you are a Jazz fan. And if you are a Jazz fan, it is forceful that you may want to compare this album with Xmas' one by Stan Kenton. Compare their completely different bigband approaches. Delicious task!. Buy both. I love both!



4. The Rob McConnell Band was together from 1968 to 2000. During that time, they recorded lots of great albums, "Present Perfect," "Atras da Porta," "Overtime," "Even Canadians Get the Blues," "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," and TWO albums with Mel Torme'.
   
   Their great contribution to Big Band literature is their main arranger, Rob McConnell, who also plays valve trombone like no one I've ever heard. Rob's arrangements are always clever, technically challenging and aurally satisfying.
   
   This album is the pinnacle of his writing, because he manages to infuse the great Christmas tunes with warmth and originality. He arranges the first track so that "Let it Snow!" becomes "Killer Joe;" "The Christmas Waltz" is in four-- and you'll never hear "Favorite Things" and think of Julie Andrews anymore. This album is just fabulous. What's really strange too is that its price has gotten lower over the years. Buy it, put it on-- then either listen to it intently or play it in the background. Either way, you will not be disappointed.

1 comments about The Tailor of Gloucester.

1. What a great team was put together for this performance. A Beatrix Potter story read by an amazingly versatile reader/actress Meryl Streep and gorgeous music by The Chieftans!
   This is one of those stories that we first bought for our Children back in 1988, but it is so wonderfully done that it is still a family favorite with teenagers who roll their eyes but still stay to listen.
   Just more proof that talent, creativity, and a good story are truly timeless and independent of age.

2 comments about Holidays.

1. This album is an awesome collection of new holiday songs that are destined to become favorites. It is perfect for curling up by the fireplace with someone special on a cold December night. Hapa have a rich, flowing quitar sound and as a duo their voices complement each other. There are only a couple of songs in Hawaiian, but you don't have to speak Hawaiian to understand the joyous message of the songs.



2. Holidays, Hapa's second recording, made in 1995, establishes the pattern of their most successful albums-half the songs are vocals, and half are instrumentals. Hapa, which means "half," consists of Keli'i Kaneali'i and Barry Flanagan, a duo that is half Hawaiian, but in their dedication to the sounds of the islands they are a hundred percent Hawaiian. Here their sounds honor the Christmas holidays, with four of the seven vocals being new holiday songs composed by Flanagan.
   
   The album is quiet and mellow, music which captures the holiday spirit without being loud or intrusive. The instrumentals feature virtually every stringed instrument in the islands-from slack key guitar to rhythm guitar, ukulele, electric sitar, and bass. Percussion adds to the rhythm, with Eric Keawe on the claves, Flanagan on castanets, and Larry Leiberman on drums and tympani, where appropriate. Two of the most interesting instrumentals are their version of "Oh Come, Oh Come, Emanuel," which features Flanagan on lead guitar, ukulele, electric sitar, and bass, and Eric Keawe on percussion, and John Lennon's "Love," in which Flanagan plays bass, and the acoustic and rhythm guitar take over. Four of the vocals are new songs by Flanagan, my favorite being "Ke Ku'ulani," a beautiful song in which a chorus emphasizes the loving spirit of the season, and Flanagan plays bass.
   
   As is characteristic of Hawaiian albums, everyone helps out in the recording: Robi Hahakalau ("Sistah Robi"), Lehua Kalima, and Fiji provide the chorus on "It's Christmas Day, Mahi Beamer plays piano on "It's Alright, Christmas Time is Here," and the group thanks the Keawe family and the (Kenny) Loggins family on the Big Island, for their contributions. The only song that doesn't seem to fit the recording is "Lady in Red," which is dedicated here to Mrs. Claus "from S.C.," but which remains a song about a mysterious (and not very "Christmas-y") siren. An interesting combination of vocals and instrumentals, this is a CD which adds immeasurably to the Christmas songbook of the Hawaiian islands. Mary Whipple

4 comments about Christmas Gift.

1. The harmonizing voices of na leo pilimehana make this Christmas CD a fantastic gift for anyone on your Christmas list. Whether you have ever lived in Hawaii or not, you will be entranced by the voices of these girls. The rendition of O Holy Night is the most beautiful I've ever heard. There are a few "island" selections with the English and Hawaiian words, and even some Christmas Time Blues. All in all, Christmas Gift is a CD you'll want to find in your stocking!



2. My wife and I were island-hopping earlier this year, doing a little sightseeing (no, take that back, you can't do just a LITTLE sightseeing in Hawaii!) and we stopped at the Dole Pineapple Plantation on Oahu. While we were riding the Pineapple Express train through the beautiful fields of fruit, they were playing this gorgeous music featuring three lovely vocalists! We made a mental note of the name and determined to search for some of their stuff when we got back to the mainland. Well, folks, it's Christmastime (no kidding?) and what can be more appropriate during this season of endless snow and chill than some down home Hawaiian music? Specifically, Hawaiian Christmas music, where some of the lyrics are sung in Hawaiian by three angels! "Kana Kaloka/Here Comes Santa Claus" is the standout of this album, and just wait until you hear the three girls (well, ladies; they are, allegedly, over thirty!) cut loose on this track. Magic, sheer magic!! In fact, you will find yourself wishing for more English/Hawaiian songs rather than just the one. "Oh, Holy Night" is suitably angelic-sounding (as well it should be), while "Unto Us Tonight" is a stunningly simple testimony to faith and Eternal Love. Most of the record is similarly sweet; therefore, when the girls kick down the basement door with the worldly "Christmas Time Blues," it comes as something of a shock. Fabulous!!! So, buy yourself a Christmas Gift and thrill to the harmonies of Na Leo Pilimehana long after the holidays are over. Mele Kalikimaka!!!



3. Na Leo is beautiful. If you want to experience angels singing in your own home buy this and many more of their music...it is awesome. Their voices are so soothing they will take all your worries away.
   
   Mahalo Amazon.com and family!
   
   Jeanne



4. Such a beautiful Christmas CD! It brings back wonderful times in Hawaii...these women have absolutely gorgeous voices that everyone should hear!

No comments about Rimsky-Korsakov: Golden Cockerel Suite; Tsar Saltan Suite; Chrismas Eve Suite.

1 comments about Caz Christmas.

1. The Caz Broz are in a rut -- this is doesn't meet their usual standards. Shop worn versions of Christmas chesnuts.

No comments about The Traditions of Christmas.

5 comments about It Won't Be Christmas Without You.

1. Wow! What a great collection of songs. They did a professional job and did it their own 'cowboy' way. I have bought three copies so far for friends and family. This is the BEST Christmas CD to come out in a long, long time. My favorites are 'It Won't Be Christmas Without You' and 'Who Says There Ain't No Santa Clause' Thanks Kix and Ronnie for the early Christmas present! Linda (B&D fan club)



2. B&D did an excellent job on this album. They took alot of the classics and made them their own and threw in some new songs that will definately be staples in my christmas music. Of course, if you're the type of person who thinks christmas music should only have orchastra instruments and not electric guitars might want to look elsewhere. For anyone who enjoys Brooks & Dunn's music this album is a must have.



3. Ronnie Dunn is a brilliant singer while Kix Brooks is merely a good singer, but Kix has an outgoing personality that more than compensates for any vocal imperfections. These characteristics are demonstrated clearly in this excellent collection of Christmas songs old and new. Ronnie's style is more suited to the laid-back songs while Kix really lets rip on the up-tempo material. Although Ronnie normally sings lead on the majority of the duo's songs, this album is different. Ronnie sings lead on It won't be Christmas without you, Blue Christmas, The Christmas song and I'll be home for Christmas, all of them ballads and all superbly performed.

   On all the other songs, Kix sings lead and his enthusiasm shines through. If Rocking little Christmas doesn't get those toes tapping, nothing else will. For absolute perfection, it might have better if Ronnie had sung lead on White Christmas, but Kix does a fair version of the song and I cannot fault him elsewhere on the album.

   The five original songs are all of a high quality while the six covers are all well known classics. This is a hugely entertaining album that can be used as background music but will also appeal to anybody who wants to give it undivided attention.




4. This is the first country cd I have purchased. It is great. I had seen the video on tv last year. but didnt give the cd much thought. Well, I heard the title cut again this year and just had to have it. Not only was the title cut great but I had to sit and relax and listen to the complete cd..Belive me, I was not disappointed. I ordered the cd from one of your merchants, RetroDisc. The cd came on time (today) and it was in perfect condition. RetroDisc deservers 5 stars along with amazon. Thank you for such wonderful service.



5. This is a kickbutt Christmas album!! I was hesitant to buy this, I didn't know about Brooks and Dunn and Christmas, but I absolutely love it!

1 comments about The Silver Album.

1. To me, this christmas album has a different sound to it than some of Lorie Line's other works. But it's my favorite, it has a lighter feel to it. She deserves definate recognition for all of her good work.

1 comments about A Rose of Swych Virtu Reverence from the Renaissance and Middle Ages.

1. The more you listen to it, the more you hear in it. The small size of the consort give it an intimacy that coupled with the quality of the recording, and
   the power of the arrangements and performance, really grabs you. "Heu, Teneri Partus" absolutely takes me away.