5 comments about December.

1. "At no other time of the year is there a wider array of emotions than the month of December. As I considered material and arrangements for this recording I wanted to assure myself that in each instance the songs reach out to the joys and reflections of the season. I wish you all the best in all your Decembers." ~ Chris Botti ~
   
   December. We're on the last month of the year. It's the time of the year again when people tend to become busier than ever. Time flies so quickly. Where did January thru November go? But anyway, December is truly without a doubt my favorite month of the year. To me, it brings so many cherished, fond and warm family memories to have and to hold year after year.
   
   It was such a pleasure to be with my friends at Chris Botti's live concert last night at the Wilshire Theatre with his special guests. It was a terrific and enjoyable concert. A dream concert! To any fan, the ultimate and best thing is watching him perform live and see and hear before your very own eyes and ears how exquisitely he played his favorite instrument and interpreted some of the hauntingly beautiful classics of all-time.
   
   This outstanding CD is one of my absolute favorite Christmas CDs from my collection. You'll enjoy listening to thirteen Christmas classics of all-time with arrangements by the artist himself and Billy Childs. You'll be delighted with the fabulous, breathtaking and sublime interpretations of "The Christmas Song," "O Little Town of Bethlemen," "Silent Night," "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and "Hark The Herald Angels Sing," a twosome with Hector Pereira on guitar (wow, trumpet and guitar - what a perfect combination!). And of course my very favorite from this collection of wonderful Christmas carols, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" showcasing Mr. Botti's smooth and mellow vocals.
   
   "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"
   ~ Words and Music by Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane ~
   
   Have yourself a merry little Christmas
   Let your heart be light
   From now on our troubles will be out of sight
   Have yourself a merry little Christmas
   Make the Yuletide gay
   From now on our troubles will be miles away
   
   Here we are as in olden days
   Happy golden days of yore
   Faithful friends who are dear to us
   Gather near to us once more
   Thru the years we all will be together
   If the fates allow
   Hang a shining star upon the highest bow
   And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.
   
   May this Christmas Season bring more joy, peace and blessings to one and all. Have the happiest Holidays ever!



2. December is...the beginning of a beautiful season and a time to reflect on all the things that are good about life. It's also a CD composed of thirteen songs of the season performed by Chris Botti, one of the preeminent trumpeters in contemporary jazz today. Whether you have a collection of Christmas music or none, this CD is not to be missed.
   
   December is...a time when snow can and does fall in places where it's cold enough for it to actually land on the ground and accumulate so as to be fun and a hazard at the same time. And...it's not just music for fans of Chris Botti; rather it's a CD that anyone can put in the player and relax to as you listen and absorb familiar tunes such as Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let it Snow. Even if you live in the tropics and never see snow, you can close your eyes and picture Chris's brilliant tone ascending to the heavens and coaxing down the flakes. Let It Snow is a beautiful arrangement for a classic jazz quintet with Billy Childs on piano, CJ Vanston on synthesizer, David Carpenter on bass while Peter Erskine applies the brushes to snare drum and cymbals. The Little Drummer Boy is a playful rendering featuring Brandon Fields on tenor sax joining Chris with Vinnie Colaiuta taking over on drums; this is a great tune to light your fire on a cold night.
   
   December...contains a hypnotic chill out song that's oh so mellow called Hallelujah, the fourth tune on the CD. It's performed by a trio of Botti on muted trumpet accompanied by Shane Fontayne on guitars and on bass is Jon Ossman of Chris's band; this song has the power to move you.
   
   There is so much to like about this collection. I'll Be Home For Christmas is just the sort of arrangement that will remove the stress of too much hustle and bustle and replace it with joy; put this song on repeat and let Chris's muted trumpet evoke in you an emotion that'll get you going for the rest of the year.
   
   Have fun, enjoy life and December.



3. This is such a beautiful compilation of Christmas classics that is sure to become a favorite in anyone's collection. I love this album for slowing down and remembering the magic of the holiday season, for background music during our holiday feast or a cocktail party with friends and for cuddling up with my honey for the evening. The music is soulful, moving, even sultry. I was especially enjoyed Botti's rendition of Hallelujah. Relax and enjoy "December."



4. This album is a wonderful Christmas album. His trumpet is so mellow it makes you swoon. If you love this album you'll love all his others.



5. If you appreciate Chris Botti, you'll love listening to him playing Christmas music.
   
   This album in particular is not my favorite of his. The beginning tracks I think are the highlights of the album. Nice to hear him playing some more upbeat jazz on this one. This should put some of his nay sayers to rest about him being overrated.
   
   Just close your eyes and appreciate the smooth sounds of Mr. Botti.

1 comments about Songs 4 Worship: Christmas Joy.

1. Many of the songs were being played on my Christian radio station this year. The arrangements are contemporary and well done. My kids liked this album too.

5 comments about Blue Yule: Christmas Blues and R&B Classics.

1. Well, let's see. As I write this review, the date is December 8th, 2004, and it's another two weeks and three days till Christmas finally arrives on the 25th. Since virtually every place in Creation started playing Christmas music on November 1st, you've had 38 days to become thoroughly SICK of the same dozen songs played over and over again from every radio station and retail establishment. Want some relief? How about an album chock-full of great Christmas BLUES music, that truly sounds more like blues that like standard, overplayed holiday ditties? Well, folks, get this CD!! It's nice and long (18 tracks) and only one or two numbers are overly familiar (and one of those, Charles Brown's immortal "Merry Christmas Baby," is usually considered the top Christmas blues recording of all time!) Standouts include Canned Heat (Their song is straightforward blues, not the novelty track they spun with ALvin and the Chipmunks), Detroit Junior with his hard-driving boogie "Christmas Day", the Pilgrim Travelers and their delightful, close-harmony doo-wop gospel classic, "I'll Be Home for Christmas," and the always-irrepresible Louis Jordan with "Santa Claus, Santa Claus." There's not a bad number in the bunch, but the pick of this holiday litter must go to Edddie Campbell and his delicious take on the Junior Wells masterpiece, here titled "Santa's Messin' With the Kid". So don't delay! Order today, there's still time to get it rushed to you by Christmas. Do it, and the best yuletide blues and r and b will be home to you, if not by Christmas, then by New Years night.



2. Blues musicians don't record Christmas songs that often, but Rhino Records managed to find 18 Christmas blues songs for this CD. Charles Brown's definitive recording of "Merry Christmas Baby" is well known, but the rest of the tracks are pretty obscure. There are a lot of good songs here, with my personal favorites being the ones by Eddie C. Campbell and Canned Heat. If you have any interest in the blues, this is the Christmas CD to get.



3. I've had this CD before. There are quite a few blues christmas albums out there. This is definately one of the better ones. Allot of older blues christmas tunes. If you love the blues, this one's for you



4. if, like me, you make bizarre anthologies of Christmas music, this is a great addition to your library. Raucous and gutsy, a lot of these songs will shake up your celebration and possibly offend the people you want to bother. Some of them belong right alongside my long-time favorite, "Marry Christmas from the Family" by Robert Earl Keen, which is available on Tinsel Tunes, another excellent collection on Sugar Hill (which means it's mostly bluegrass/acoustic).



5. Score one more for Rhino. This label really does know how to find obscure cuts and bring them into standout various artist collections. The only gripe I could have is this disk sounds a bit monaural in a mix, but I'll still use it--it's fun to mix up a little blues with the typical sugary Christmas sentiment.
   
   What can I say about this collection that has not been said? Just add Lightning Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Canned Heat and the rest of the crew in and you've got a mix that'll make your season funky.

2 comments about Tamia's Christmas.

1. The moment I saw that Tamia had released a three-track Christmas single, I went ahead and ordered it. Previously, the only Christmas track I had of Tamia was "The Christmas Song" from Jermaine Dupri's 12 Soulful Nights of Christmas, which coincidentally is one of the three tracks (completely redone, however) on A Gift Between Friends. I personally prefer the previous version (recorded about ten years ago) to this newer version, though her voice is much more polished today. The newer version has a real tropical Latin flavor, which may or may not suit your holiday taste. Either way, it certainly is a unique twist on the classic song.
   
   The first track is a medley consisting of "Let It Snow," "Winter Wonderland," and "O Holy Night." The jazz band instrumentals to the first two provide a real cool, laid-back groove, which allow Tamia's beautiful voice to shine through. "O Holy Night" is essentially just her voice backed by a light acoustic guitar, and later on, she's joined a choir. Well-sung, though not nearly as full-sounding and moving as I feel she is capable of.
   
   The second track, Donny Hathaway's classic, "This Christmas," is done to a completely new beat, along with a nice vocal backing. Shep Crawford, a close friend who produced all three tracks, took the song in a completely new old-school direction, though I prefer versions mirroring the original closer.
   
   Though it's disappointingly just three songs, it is nonetheless a beautiful collection from the fabulous Tamia. It's a great addition to your Christmas music library or even to your complete Tamia collection.



2. Tamia, Tamia! I wish she would have done a full Christmas CD, but I udnerstand her reasons (I heard her explain...in an interview). Nonetheless, for the price, these three songs are well worth it!!! Not to mention, that the length of them are long enough too!

4 comments about Mendelssohn: Complete Piano Music.

1. For the price, you really can't find a real deal... but in a lot of places, it's obvious why the price is as low as it is. First of all, the recording is awfully muddy and the piano's tone suffers as a result, often sounding more like it's underwater than anything else.

   The second thing is that the pianist makes a fair amount of mistakes in the music he is playing, some of them often grating, something that is unacceptable in a studio recording. But I'm still giving it a middle-of-the-road score because the performances aside from the mistakes are often quite good.




2. Mendelssohn's piano music is an amazing body of work and if you are a classical music fan who has not been exposed to it yet, this is a wonderful way to get his entire piano output. Nimbus has Marvin Jones( winner of the 1968 Myra Hess Award ) performing this for us, recorded in the 1970's. It is in ADD, which is what one would expect from that time, but the sound is very crisp and clear, with the microphone placement not extremely close to the piano, so as to capture the room acoustics. Mr. Jones plays with great brilliance, clarity, and enthusiasm, and, most importantly, he seems to capture the true spirit of Mendelssohn. The set is nicely packaged in two triple cases in a sleeve with a booklet.



3. This is no doubt to me great piano music played by a great performer. I can't find anything wrong with that. The only problem is the recording quality is very poor, almost intolerable at times. This was recorded in the early through late 70s. I disagree with the previous reviewer, the sound isn't crisp or clear at all, it's very staticy and recorded at a very low volume so you have to crank up the volume creating more static. It's also hard to hear how beautiful the piano really is. To confirm what one of the other reviewers said it does sound as if the piano is underwater. Too bad the recording was not cleaned up to sound at least a little better.
   
   Even at the price I paid ($25)it still may be over priced. It is a great way to get all of his solo piano music but if you want quality skip this and spend the extra money.



4. This is an amazing collection of Mendelssohn's works! However, the recording is a little on the soft side, so you sort of need to crank your speakers, but all in all, it's a must have for collectors of classical music. Enjoy! Oh, and may I strongly suggest track 3 of disc 4 - it was my whole reason for buying this collection. The entire set is amazing, but that track is worth the price of admission.

4 comments about Sleigh Ride! Classic Christmas Favorites.

1. I was looking for arrangements of many traditional Christmas carols done by orchestras. This album hits the spot. It is not uniquely orchestra carols, the Canadian Brass is mixed in as welll. The highlight of the album for me is the back to back track of "Sleigh Ride" pieces. It begins with W.A. Mozart's "Sleigh Ride," followed by Leopold Mozart's piece of the same name, and then finnished with the ever popular arangement of "Sleigh Ride" by Anderson. It is a really good mix of carols, and can be listened to for hours.



2. I love the traditional carols on this CD. The Carol of the Bells is my favorite!! I also love Silent Night which is one of my all time favorite Christmas carols. This album is great to put on a at a Christmas party and hit repeat. It has a nice mix of songs that you don't get tired of hearing! This is a must have and I would highly recommend this CD for anyone that enjoys Christmas songs and the holiday season. You will catch yourself humming the songs through out your day! It will definitely get rid of any "BAH HUM BUG" moods!



3. I've owned this for years and never tire of it. Guests ALWAYS ask what I'm playing. I've purchased several copies as gifts. If you're sick of the stuff they play in malls and pine for some big, inspiring, classical arrangements, this is the CD for you.



4. Great CD for background music when entertaining. Has great classic Xmas music with upbeat songs.

5 comments about Gregorian Christmas: Chants & Motets.

1. This is a beautiful collection of soothing Christmas chants and motets...Put this in your CD player and you'll have trouble getting upset about the person who just cut you off for the last parking space at the mall! An excellent-quality recording for an amazing price...



2. Beautiful musical rendition of Christmas music. Soothing and lilting, it'll help you get centered or reconnected or whatever it is you need for stress relief. A fantastic CD at a great price!



3. Not technically Gregorian, because of some polyphony. But this is one of the best selections of this kind of music that I've heard. Compare to expensive monastery or convert CDs, and others, and this is one you put on the CD changer more than the rest. Found it in a bargain bin at Fry's. Amazing CD.



4. The play list is correct, the one with the ability to listen to clips. This CD has 14 tracks, beginning with "Puer natus est nobis" (the Introit) and ending with "Magnificat anima mea Dominum." The list that says ON THIS CD is a totally different list of chants. I do not know what it is doing on this page.
   There is no Mozart. There are sparse credits in the liner notes. The recording appears to be of a group calling itself Capella Gregoriana, although nothing is said about them. Predominantly chant, there are times when the selections move to motets, the natural outgrowth of chant, being simutaneous independent plain songs as it were, combined to form a melodious and rhythmic whole much as partner songs do. Highly recommended, this is an excellent budget album. Just be sure that you understand that you are getting the 14 tracks that you can listen to, not the list that says other tracks are on the CD. As for the Christmas feel, it is certainly reverent and soothing. It is not festive. If you like chant, you will appreciate this album. I certainly do. If you are looking for festive type Christmas music, find another source.



5. I've used this for years as part of my meditation regime and never realized that I've never done a review for it.
   
   When I listen to it just after my morning meditations, it always bring up solem divine feelings in me that bring some tears to my eyes.
   
   The people who perform this work really capture the divinity in it. I'm really not interested in who the creators or performers are. All I know is that what they did work for me.

3 comments about Home for Christmas.

1. Holidays, foods, celebrations and music are the sights, smells, tastes and sounds of family traditions. For me and my family Christmas has officially arrived with the last belch of the Thanksgiving day meal and the first notes of the O'Jay's Home for Christmas CD. I Can Hardly Wait for Christmas gently sets the mood of the next big holiday and family gathering with the caress of a warm as eggnog ballad. The CD is a compilation of musical styles and arrangements sharing well-worn standards such as White Christmas and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, and original tunes written by members of the group,destined to set standards of their own. The opening original tune is followed by the welcome, well recognized Merry Christmas, Baby, certain to draw the first vocal swoon of the holiday season. The Christmas Song is presented with a jazzy, big band background and, for me, is the only real disappointment on the CD (some traditions shouldn't be tampered with). But, the O'Jays more than make up for that indiscretion by coming back with the soulful Wanna Be Home for Christmas, followed by the unmistakable R&B vibe of Christmas Time in the City. No matter the age or the musical taste of our guests, everyone leaves Thanksgiving night having set plans and hardly able to wait for Christmas day to arrive to play out another time honored family tradition. We and the O'Jays will definitely be Home for Christmas.



2. This is one of the best Christmas album on the market. O'Jays fans will love it.



3. This is My Favorite Christmas CD!
   Nothing but Pure O'Jays Genius!
   Many Original Songs that will Instantly put You in The Spirit!

5 comments about Christmas with the Brady Bunch.

1. I like the Brady Bunch it is one of my favorite shows and I a have always admired the actors who played the Brady kids and I have heard them singing songs that I liked, Sun Shine Day among them so I bought the Christmas CD and sorry but I think it's awful! They can and have done much better!



2. I believe that most people don't like this CD because it is sung by the children. For young children they are very good. I believe that they are very good for young children that have little experiance singing. I believe that if you are a true fan of the brady's and don't like younger children singing this is an amazing CD. I really loved it.



3. This album is awful. I bought it for nostalgic/ ironic purposes, and it's not even good for those. The arrangements are terrible, and the singing is worse. The decision to use the character names instead of those of the real actors is strange. Even still, they misspell Marcia as Marsha. I like the Bradys and will point out that they later became competent vocalists with tuneful arrangements. This Christmas album seems to have been the reason they sought help. Again, I like the Bradys but I can't think of any reason for this to still be in print. (If you like it, don't let me change your mind- I'm just giving one perspective.) The only decent arrangement is Frosty, and you can get it on the Sunshine Day compilation. The only good news is, if you're a completist or a masochist, this collection is always cheap. In all, a really bad album. I don't recommend.



4. Yes, it's kids singing and it sounds like it. But know what? It's cute. Don't buy it if you are looking for something other than a kids' singalong, but it's fun if you like the Brady Bunch. Also if you're nostalgic like me. It's fun and cute and great for family listening. Better than some newer Christmas CDs I have, in fact, because - face it - we do know all these songs. If you sing along, sing real loud!



5. When Mahalia Jackson heard Barry William's version, she died of a broken heart.
   
   True story.

5 comments about Bright Day Star: Music for the Yuletide Seasons.

1. Had enough of animated snowmen and over-sweetened carol arrangements? Here's a hugely enjoyable recording of songs and dances done with flair by the Baltimore Consort. There are a few familiar tunes, such as the lilting arrangement of "Ding, Dong Merrily On High" and a beautiful solo flute version of "Lo, How a Rose 'Er Blooming." But most the songs are off the beaten track, and are therefore fresh and new despite their antiquity. Custer LaRue brings feeling and energy into the songs. This has become the most played Christmas CD in our household.



2. 'Twas the day after Thanksgiving, and all through the house, Christmas spirit was stirring and starting to rouse feelings of joy and expectation in the hearts of the people who were there. Beautiful music and Custer LaRue's singing filled the air.

   Wonderful songs, written by people long dead, caused pictures to form and stories to dance through each listening head. Stories of a virgin bearing a child, stories of the little Savior's entrance into this world...meek and mild.

   Each song is sung with such haunting beauty and care. The Consort's playing could not be more wonderfully fair. Each song is a masterpiece--"The Cherry Tree Carol," "In dulci jubilo," and "Quem pastores laudavere." Each song's focus is on the true meaning of Christmas--no appearance made by St. Nick--but with singing like this, in your head they are sure to stick.

   More beautifully than snowflakes this music drifts down. In sheer loveliness, "Christmas Is My Name" deserves the crown. Oh but each tune is strong--like "Ding Dong Merrily" and "The Wren Song." Most come in at under three minutes each, none is overlong. Each is stunning...how can the listener go wrong? How they twinkle...they are most merry. One even makes mention of Cherries.

   (...)

   I highly recommend this disc.




3. A perfect way to celebrate the Christmas spirit any time of year with some truly "old" favorites, performed with spirit and heart by the Baltimore Consort. Period selections imbued here with the consort's singular sound and creative improvisations include "Ding Dong Merrily on High", "The Old Year Now Away is Fled", "The Cherry Tree Carol", "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day", "Es ist ein Ros", "In Dulci Jubilo", and many more that may charm you for the first time. The Baltimore Consort is: Mary Anne Ballard, viols and rebec; Mark Cudek, cittern, guitar, viols and bandora; Custer LaRue, soprano soloist; Larry Lipkis, viol, recorder and gemshorn; Ronn McFarlane, lutes; and Chris Norman, wooden flutes and pennywhistle; with Webb Wiggins on organ.



4. This might be my favorite holiday album. It's one of the first I pull out in November and doesn't get put away until February.



5. I purchased this CD after listening to another work by the Baltimore Consort. The quality of the recording, of the music and the vocals are all top notch. After listening to this CD for a few days, my wife and I decided it would be an ideal gift for other music lovers. Each person who has since received it has also thoroughly enjoyed it. While the CD is themed for the yuletide season, I don't know that it has to go away with the garland and tinsel.