1 comments about Sketches of Christmas.

1. Most people will hear Wind Machine piping through store speakers and not know who they are hearing. When they hear it at my home, they often ask "Who is that?". They want to know what group makes such beautiful music. They, of course, have likely never heard of Wind Machine. It is very unfortunate that these guys made music this good but were hardly recognized at least by name.

   Sketches of Christmas is a very good holiday offering. The arrangements and instrumentation are reflective, beautiful and tasteful. This music will not interfere with your family time but it is definitely not to be relegated to the background. It is music that enhances your time and beckons to the heart to consider the true meaning of Christmas. When you listen to Sketches of Christmas you will not hear one ounce of commercialisam, but rather you will feel the heartbeat of God's love for the world that brought Christmas into being in the first place.

   Another highly recommended Wind Machine holiday disc.

   I only wish these guys were still making music. Get all their Christmas CDs while they are still in print. You will be very glad you did.

3 comments about Christmas Moments.

1. This cd has two "terrific" songs: What are you doing New Years Eve? and My favorite things. The other songs are good too, but these two songs are awesome.



2. This cd has two "terrific" songs: What are you doing New Years Eve? and My favorite things. The other songs are good too, but these two songs are awesome.



3. 
   The Whispers are my favorite group. The CD "Christmas Moments" is excellent. I enjoyed listening to it over the holidays and continue to play it.

5 comments about The Muppet Christmas Carol.

1. Unfortunately I am not lucky enough to have a copy of this soundtrack myself, but I watch the movie frequently just to hear the wonderful songs and score. And the refrain from 'Bless Us All', when Scrooge is taken to the Cratchit residence by the Ghost of Christmas-Yet-To-Come, never fails to bring on the tears. Considering that this is the Muppets we're talking about, the songs and score of this movie would have to be the best that any of their movies have ever offered.
   Michael Caine is an absolute delight as the sour-faced Scrooge, and he gives out an atmosphere of someone who is really enjoying himself.
   If I ever have the opportunity to get a copy of this soundtrack, I'll definitely snap it up. The songs are touching and genuine and, as I said, considering that this is the Muppets that we're talking about, I would have to say that it is one of the better adaptions of 'A Christmas Carol' that I've seen. The music is just fantastic, and well worth having.



2. It just wouldn't be Christmas without watching the Muppet Christmas Carol and singing along to the music. These songs are wonderful with the real gem being "one more sleep till Christmas". I highly recommend!



3. This CD is a wonderful CD. It incorperates great musical composition as well as the light joyful spirit that only the muppets can bring. The CD gets you right in the spirit of Christmas. I suggest seeing the film also... so you can enjoy the music even more!



4. This is an excellent CD for any Muppet lover! If you have not seen the Muppet Christmas Carol, you are missing a Christmas classic. The score is beautiful! My family listens to this cd all year long!



5. This is a muppet classic. You will not be disappointed. I did not pay 100.00 dollars for this cd. I paid 10.00 so it must be a mistake that amazon is charging this much. I would definitely contact them or look around.

5 comments about Abriendo Puertas.

1. Abriendo Puertas is the second of Gloria's three Spanish CDs, but the last I became familiar with. At first I was disappointed as it seemed less "serious" and "cutting edge" than Mi Tierra or Alma Caribena, but increased familiarity has revealed its considerable charms.

   This is a holiday (Christmas and New Years) related album, but not really a Christmas album as such. All the songs are based on Latin dance rhythms and represent the kind of high spirited festival music that is popular at that time of year. This is as much composer/arranger/instrumentalist Kike Santander's album as Gloria's-- he has written 10 relentlessly upbeat, wonderfully arranged songs, inventive and polished to perfection. The details of the songs are quite wonderful, and Gloria's singing is ideal for this idiom.

   This is really a great album to put you in a good mood, as well as for appreciating top of the line musicanship. The Gold Star award for the songs must go to "Felicidad", which is just that, and the impossibly infectious "Tres Deseos", (try and play it just once!).

   All together, Gloria Estefan's 3 Spanish CD's are a real achievement, and prove that her real talent is in her Latin heritage, and not in the rather ordinary English language albums she is more famous for.




2. This is the best spanish CD EVER I recommed it you wont be dissapointed.



3. Gloria's second Spanish release has to be her most exciting (along with 1998's Gloria!) The songs have a very authentic Latin sound. It's almost like she took the last song from Mi Tierra and continued on with the songs on Abriendo Puertas.

   The songs have a New Year's and Christmas theme, with messages about starting over, sending good wishes, as well as about just having fun. "Mas Alla" is the softest number, so lovely it brings a tear to your eye. "Farolito" is the most interesting, because of its tribal blend of chanting and rhythmic hand claps.

   There are many different Latin and Caribbean styles, which Gloria has written about prior to the lyrics of each song. She tells what styles you'll hear in the particular song, where they come from, and the instruments that are used to get a particular sound.

   This one isn't translated like her two other Spanish CD's are. So, even though you may not get the lyrics, the message of loving life is clear throughout the entire CD.




4. I am happy to send a review of this seller. My CD came quickly and was wrapped securely. I couldn't believe the promptness and have been enjoying it ever since. Thanks!



5. I'm 1/2 Cuban and I've been a fan since "Conga". This is her best album of all time. With an old world feel she brings Cuba to you with these songs. This album has never left my car and I can't imagine not owning it. In fact if I was on a desserted island and could only have one cd this would be it.

No comments about Jewish Holiday Stories: Chanukah/Purim.

4 comments about Peace Round: A Christmas Celebration.

1. You're asking yourself, "More Christmas songs?" Well, Christmas songs yes, but these have the distinctive Yellowjackets stamp on them. If you are familiar with the group then you know exactly what I'm talking about. I recently read another review of this CD which stated that not only are these great Christmas songs, they are great "anytime" songs. First-rate playing from a group that has been consistently up there in great jazz. Highly recommended.



2. The Yellowjackets never disappoint. This Christmas jazz CD is excellent from beginning to end.. no filler. It is a little on the mellow side but is still top notch. I have many Christmas jazz CDs, and this one is in the top three.



3. The Yellowjackets are Bob Mintzer (tenor and soprano saxophones), Russell Ferrante (piano, synths), Jimmy Haslip (bass, synth) and Marcus Baylor (drums). They are joined for one track (The first Noel) by singer Jean Baylor, wife of Marcus. The pictures confuse me - most show Santa in a desert landscape, while the group picture shows Santa surrounded by four people dressed in black with nobody in a yellow jacket. Still, it's the music that counts and the performances here are top-notch.
   
   The titles are all familiar except the title track while the overall sound is much as you would expect from a jazz quartet - however, some of the tunes are arranged slightly differently so there are a few surprises in store. Slient night appears twice, first in a fairly conventional arrangement (track 2) then with a noticeably different arrangement (the closing track) titled In a silent night.
   
   This would be a great Christmas album for jazz fans to play as background music and it might even persuade a few non-jazz fans to explore the music a little further.



4. If you're a fan of Kenny G, chances are you won't like this album. But if you are a fan of straight ahead jazz and renditions of Christmas songs that DON'T sound like a wheezing accordion than this is the CD for you.

5 comments about Coming Home.

1. I just returned from an enchanting weekend at my favorite place the Omega Institute of Holistic Studies where I attended their Ecstatic Chant weekend with Krishna Das, Snatam Kaur, Deva Premal just to name a few. An unexpected pleasure occurred as I happened upon Danya and Eyal singing as they sat under a tree on the Omega campus. I found myself drawn to Danya's lovely, soothing voice and Eyal's musical talents and energy. I was thrilled to learn they had a CD that had recently been released. I bought one, listened to it over and over again on my four hour drive home. The next morning, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed after being away for five days. As I read my many, many e-mails, I had Coming Home playing in the background. I began noticing how my stress level was gradually reduced. I then found myself calling Sounds True and ordered 10 CD's for family and friends. What a great Chanukah gift. I love to chant and had not had an opportunity before to chant in Hebrew. It is a joy!



2. If you are looking for a beautiful CD of music that is both uplifting and soul-soothing at the same time, then you should definitely buy this disc. This may be the first CD from Temple but I hope it is the first in a line of many to come!



3. This is one of those rare CDs that never fails to make me feel better. Each track is more beautiful than the last. The music is so healing, so angelic, so enchanting, that I never tire of hearing it over and over. This would be a great CD to listen to during yoga, meditation or massage - but I also like to listen to it while I'm washing dishes or driving in traffic! Brings a calming piece of heaven to me wherever I am. Don't hesitate to get this one - you won't be sorry!



4. OK, I am very picky when it comes to chanting and I have to say Temple has done a beautiful job capturing the spirit of these ancient Hebrew prayers. Lead singer Danya Uriel's voice is gentle, pure and relaxing and reminded me of Enya, Deva Premal, and Snatam Kaur - angelic and at the same time raw and real. Israeli producer and guitar player Eyal Rivlin's playing style is very reminiscent of early Will Ackerman and the new age sound of Windham Hill. Sounds True did a great job with the elaborate liner notes, which give the deeper translations of each of the 7 Hebrew mantras, and make the CD usable as a practice tool. Whether you are a fan of Kabbalah or Jewish Mysticism, or love to sing sacred chants and Kirtan (a la Krishna Das or Jai Uttal) this CD adds a missing component to any musical collection. Also, since the CD is 58 minutes long and has a consistent contemplative sound throughout, I found it to work very well in my massage and healing practice.



5. This CD is pure joy! Temple's music envelopes you in beauty, connecting you to your own deepest heart and inspiring you to share that beauty with others. It is beyond music, it is healing meditation, it is love and faith embodied through sound. This CD was on repeat through the long labor of my daughter, it held me steady through that amazing process and it now soothes my little one out of the womb.

1 comments about Jubilee 2000: 2000 Years of Sacred Music.

1. Holy homily! For those who like music from a bygone era -- a real long, long, long, long time ago -- here's your relic. This CD celebrates the Top 40 of the Sixth Century: Gregorian chants performed by various artists, including the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos, one of the world's most renowned religious choirs. This is tuneful timetable, with stops along the Renaissance, Baroque and Classicism eras. Don't get us wrong, but we don't think it has a pray of a chance of making our playlist.

1 comments about Martha Stewart Living Music: Classical Favorites for the Holidays.

1. I purchased this CD on iTunes and I love it. Martha's CD collection is very tasteful and the music is great background music. I'm not a big fan of Christmas music sung by pop stars, and so I avoid most modern releases, but this CD is all classical. Particularly love the song sung by II Divo and Placido Domingo. This is a classical album sure to please everyone.
   
   When I played it in my car my I got compliments on it. Way to go Martha!!!

No comments about A Gold City Christmas.