Charlie Brown’s Christmas gets all the publicity. Well, it’s hard to compete with a soundtrack that you hear every year since TV shows were black and white. Still, next to Handel’s Messiah and Corelli’s Christmas Concert, Christmas Soli by guitarist…
Author: George W. Harris
WHO’S BETTER? Nnenna Freelon/John Brown Big Band: Christmas
Vocalist Nnenna Freelon can do no wrong in my book. On stage, her joy of heart exudes in every syllable that comes from her lips, while on record she keeps one foot in the tradition and one foot on intriguing…
Jonathan Butler: Merry Christmas to You
Smooth guitarist/vocalist Jonathan Butler roasts chestnuts by the open fire on this cozy and warm collection of Christmas standards. A lesser known tune, “Sweet Little Jesus Boy” stands out from the standard fare of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and…
Lady Antebellum: Live-On This Winter’s Night
Originally released as a holiday album last year, On This Winter’s Night is the dvd presentation of the trios performance at the Nashville Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The 40 piece orchestra backs up the trio that actually creates a pretty cozy…
Ted Rosenthal Trio: Wonderland
Here’s a trio that takes its Christmas songs seriously. Ted Rosenthal/p, Noriko Ueda/b and Tim Horner/dr go through the Natal catalogue of standard fare, but with a lot of thought and preparation. “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” has a…
Jim Self/Hollywood Tuba 12: ‘Tis the Season Tuba Jolly!
Jim Self/Hollywood Tuba 12: ‘Tis the Season Tuba Jolly! Twelve part arrangements for the tuba?!? Gotta love the moxie of Jim Self, and he makes it work on this fun filled and quite varied collection of Christmas tunes. Take heart,…
****VOCAL RINGER OF THE YEAR?****Tierney Sutton: After Blue
I’ve looked at Joni from both sides now From pop and blues, and still somehow It’s Joni’s illusions I recall I really don’t know Joni…at all I grew up listening to Joni Mitchell, and what was most fascinating about…
Peggy Duquesnel: All I Ask For Christmas
I’ve enjoyed vocalist Peggy Duqeusnel’s albums because she always mixes in a few intriguing original compositions with jazz standards. Well, lo and behold, she even does that on this 2 disc set of Christmas songs! Cleverly, she divides the set…
MEDITERRANEAN DELIGHT…Cigdem Aslan: Mortissa
You want a mix of cultures? This lady does what governments have been failing at for years-bringing peace and understanding between Greece and Turkey. Vocalist Cigdem Aslan sings in Greek and Turkish on this collection of songs from the early…
New York Voices: Let It Snow
Here’s an attractive Christmas album that feels artist as well as celebrative. The vocal quartet New York Voices deliver a well rounded collection of Yuletide tunes in a variety of settings, with each one coming off like a selection from…