Christmas CDs

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Dec 3, 2004 | by Deseret Morning News

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER; "Christmas Celebration" (American Gramaphone)

Chip Davis and friends are back with the newest Mannheim Steamroller Christmas album -- "Christmas Celebration." This 18- track disc is actually a "greatest hits" compilation that takes Davis' well-known and best loved tracks from the last four Mannheim Christmas albums. "Deck the Halls," "Away in a Manger," "Wassail, Wassail" and "O Tannenbaum," featuring Johnny Mathis are some of the standouts. "Fum Fum Fum," "Carol of the Bells" and a majestic new work, "Celebration," capture the glory and reverence of the holiday spirit. Oh, yes, we can't forget Utahn LynnDee Mueller lending her vocal talents to the track "Traditions of Christmas." -- S.I.

MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR; "Sing, Choirs of Angels" (MTC)

Under the direction of Craig Jessop, and with arrangements by Mack Wilberg, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir continues to raise the bar for traditional choral music. This latest offering brings a richness and elegance to each song that captivates and enthralls. It includes a collection of carols from around the world ("I Saw Three Ships," "The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy," "Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine," "Fum, Fum, Fum") as well as favorite carols by John

Rutter ("Angels' Carol," "Candlelight Carol," "What Sweeter Music"). With accompaniment by the Orchestra at Temple Square, the collection sparkles from start to finish with the spirit and joy of the holiday season. -- C.W.

HEIDI GRANT MURPHY, SOPRANO, KEVIN MURPHY, PIANO, RICHARD AULDON CLARK, VIOLIN AND VIOLA; "The Gifts of Christmas" (Koch International Classics)

The majority of the arrangements on this album are quasi-new age minimalist, and as such the music tends to sound too homogeneous. But the effect is mellow and sweet and appealing. And to her credit, Heidi Grant Murphy pulls it off convincingly. She has a beautiful soprano voice, and she certainly doesn't oversing any of these pieces. The 17 tracks range from "The First Noel" and "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" to songs by Max Reger and Hugo Wolf. There are also a couple of delightful songs by John Rutter ("Mary's Lullaby" and Shepherd's Pipe Carol"). This album is definitely worth adding to your holiday collection. -- E.R.

THE BRETT RAYMOND IMITATION JAZZ TRIO; "Mini Christmas Album" (Brett Raymond Music)

Mr. Cool meets Mr. Claus on this mini album introducing the Brett Raymond Imitation Jazz Trio. With husky-voice Raymond doing the vocals and keyboards, and with Todd Sorensen on the drums and Eric Wallengren on the bass guitar, the trio delivers an energetic and lively look at the holidays that is overlaced with a smoooooth, laid- back mentality. Two new songs, written by Raymond, offer messages for our times: "Feels Like Christmas Time" and "Christmas in L.A." The other three cuts are remastered titles off Raymond's "Primarily For Christmas" CD: "Jolly Old St. Nicholas," "Up On the Housetop," and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." The mini-CD is a "sort of souvenir" of the Odyssey Dance Theatre's "Joy to the World" concert that Raymond is a part of each year. You can only hope there'll be a full- lenth CD by the trio sometime in the future. -- C.W.