Holiday Guide & More - Allegro Music
Holiday Guide & More - Allegro Music
Holiday Guide & More - Allegro Music
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IN REVIEW September / October 2011<br />
<strong>Holiday</strong> <strong>Guide</strong> & <strong>More</strong><br />
Plus New Releases from –<br />
DEVA PREMAL • DEUTER • GARY STROUTSOS<br />
JAMES ASHER • KENIO FUKE • COYOTE OLDMAN<br />
ROBIN MILLER • PETER KATER • PAUL HORN<br />
. . . and many more!<br />
SM
Spirit Voyage’s Kundalini Transformation Kit<br />
SVM8 9503<br />
Yoga and Mantras for a Whole Heart<br />
Karan KHalsa & raMdesH Kaur<br />
Book with Full <strong>Music</strong> CD Inside<br />
Spirit Voyage has created the Kundalini Transformation Kit series to offer a set of meditations and principles<br />
to live by to support your life’s needs. This tool kit incorporates Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan, ®<br />
whose powerful yogic technology supports so many aspects of our day-to-day lives.<br />
SVM3 4128<br />
i am thine<br />
Jai-Jagdeesh<br />
Jai’s compositions present a voluptuous<br />
and bluesy take on this collection of<br />
mantras and kirtan that is truly unique.<br />
2 IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
SVM8 9510<br />
Yoga and Mantras for Prosperity<br />
GuruGanesHa sinGH & Karan KHalsa<br />
Book with Full <strong>Music</strong> CD Inside<br />
Kundalini Yoga –<br />
Healthy Body Fearless spirit SVM4 2463<br />
WitH GurMuKH and snataM Kaur<br />
Live from Spirit Fest 2010<br />
This 90-minute yoga class is designed to<br />
help build your immune system, detoxify<br />
from the inside out, and clear the way<br />
to approach the world from your heart.<br />
Taught by Gurmukh with live music<br />
and meditation led by Snatam Kaur<br />
accompanied by GuruGanesha Singh,<br />
Ramesh Kannan and Ram Dass.<br />
SVM3 4205<br />
the alchemist’s Prayer<br />
raM dass<br />
Ram Dass’ debut is an incredible presentation<br />
of the sound that’s blossomed from his intense<br />
passion for music and the creative spirit.<br />
SVM3 4298<br />
The infinite heart<br />
asHana<br />
Songs and mantras honoring the<br />
Divine Feminine for voice and<br />
crystal singing bowls.
September / October 2011<br />
<strong>Holiday</strong> <strong>Guide</strong> & <strong>More</strong><br />
Happy <strong>Holiday</strong>s<br />
from <strong>Music</strong> Design!<br />
We present you with our 2011 guide to holiday<br />
themed music releases, pointing out a few new<br />
additions and providing coverage of our<br />
returning favorites. This year listeners will be<br />
charmed with new seasonal albums from Geri<br />
Allen, Mark O’Connor and a Putumayo Celtic<br />
Christmas release. Plus we’ve brought back two<br />
favorites from Vince Guaraldi and added an<br />
amazing guitarist by the name of Steve Wariner.<br />
Browse our holiday sections on pages 7–25<br />
and find the albums that will make the perfect<br />
stocking stuffers for your store this year.<br />
This issue also features a plethora of new releases<br />
from artists such as Deva Premal, Deuter, Robin Miller,<br />
Peter Kater, Coyote Oldman, James Asher, Kenio Fuke,<br />
Gary Stroutsos and many others.<br />
The cover highlights a new <strong>Holiday</strong> release by<br />
jazz sensation Geri Allen called A CHILD IS BORN<br />
and a beat filled release by the dynamic duo of<br />
David & Steve Gordon called GROOVE TRIBE.<br />
It’s time to get your groove on and stock those<br />
shelves for the fall selling season.<br />
<strong>Holiday</strong> Restocking PRogRam is HeRe!<br />
We’re here to guide you through this busy time of year.<br />
Product Manager / Editor: Liz Doan Writer & Production: Dan Cowan Design & Production: RIchard McElroy Production Assistant: Eileen Kopp<br />
©2011 <strong>Music</strong> Design. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any of the contents herein, including but not limited to<br />
images, text and logos, is strictly prohibited unless prior written consent is obtained from the rights holder.<br />
p.36<br />
4th Qtr. <strong>Holiday</strong> Restocking Program<br />
October 1 — November 18, 2011<br />
Place one order of any size and assortment (emphasis on<br />
<strong>Holiday</strong> titles) and we’ll give you February 1, 2012 dating!<br />
Offer available to qualified “Net” accounts only.<br />
Offer limited to one order only and cannot be combined with any other offer.<br />
<strong>Music</strong> Design standard terms and conditions apply.<br />
p.25<br />
p.37<br />
SM IN<br />
REVIEW<br />
p.15<br />
Contents<br />
7–25 <strong>Holiday</strong><br />
32 AFRICAN<br />
41 DVD<br />
33 ELECTRONIC / DANCE<br />
32 INTERNATIONAL<br />
33 JAZZ / CONTEMPORARY<br />
32 LATIN / SOUTH AMERICAN<br />
43 LOUNGE MUSIC<br />
42 MUSIC FOR RELAXATION<br />
33 NATIVE / INFLUENCED<br />
29 NEW AGE MUSIC<br />
42 PIANO / ORIGINALS<br />
36 SACRED / CHANT / VOCAL<br />
40 SELF-HELP AUDIO<br />
40 SIDELINES<br />
37 WORLD BEAT<br />
Essentials<br />
4,5 ARTISTS IN REVIEW<br />
5 ADVERTISERS INDEX<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
3
ARTIST / Title SEC Catalog # Cost List<br />
4 IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
Artists In Review This Issue<br />
ALI KHAN, MASOOD p.37 ............................. Yoga Sessions: Hang With Angels ............. WBT WSM3 28 8.98 14.98<br />
ANDREAS p.29 ......................................... Magickal Nights .............................. MUS PMC3 221 9.48 15.98<br />
ASHER, JAMES p.37 ................................... Return of the Tiger ........................... WBT NER3 3104 9.98 16.98<br />
AUDITORY SCULPTURE p.29.......................... Lagom ....................................... MUS ZON3 2 9.48 15.98<br />
CHIASSON, ANN MARIE, MD p.41 ..................... Energy Healing for Beginners ................. DVD STQ4 1738 11.98 19.95<br />
CHOPRA, DEEPAK / ADAM PLACK p.40 .............. Secret of Love, The:<br />
Meditations for Attracting and Being in Love SHP PBE3 1002 11.48 18.98<br />
COYOTE OLDMAN / LANZ / STROUTSOS p.33 .......Time Travelers ...............................NAT COZ3 1013 9.48 15.98<br />
DARSHAN AMBIENT p.29 ..............................Autumn’s Apple .............................. MUS LSM3 2 9.98 16.98<br />
DEUTER p.42 ............................................Earth Blue ................................... MFR NER3 2716 9.98 16.98<br />
DEUTER p.42 ............................................Empty Sky ................................... MFR NER3 3115 9.98 16.98<br />
DUNSTER, CHINMAYA p.29 ............................Gaia’s Garden ................................ MUS NER3 3113 9.98 16.98<br />
EXHALE MIND BODY SPA p.41 .........................Core Fusion Cardio Pure Intensity ............ DVD AMQ4 8605 9.98 16.98<br />
FUKE, KENIO p.42 ......................................Relaxing Melodies of Nature .................. MFR RMZ3 5543 9.98 16.98<br />
GAIAM p.41 .............................................Titans of Yoga ............................... DVD GAI4 58499 7.48 12.98<br />
GLOBESONIC DJ ALSULTANY p.37 ....................Yoga Lounge ................................. WBT WSM3 121 9.98 16.98<br />
GORDON, DAVID & STEVE p.37 ........................Groove Tribe ................................. WBT SQR3 503 9.48 15.98<br />
GORDON, DAVID & STEVE / SEQUOIA ARTISTS p.42 Reiki Healing Light: <strong>Music</strong> for Deep Meditation MFR SQR3 928 9.48 15.98<br />
HOLDEN, LEE p.41 ......................................Qi Gong for Self-Healing ..................... DVD STQ4 1895 11.98 19.95<br />
HORN, PAUL p.29 .......................................Stillness Inside, The .......................... MUS STQ3 2119 10.98 17.98<br />
JAMEAU, MARIA / BLUE BRAZIL p.33 .................Gema .........................................JAZ CHR3 73304 9.98 16.98<br />
KATER, PETER p.42 ....................................Wind, Rock, Sea & Flame ...................... MFR PLI3 39 6.48 10.98<br />
LANIER, STANTON p.42 ................................Thousand Years, A ........................... PNO NWM3 5271 9.48 15.98<br />
LLEWELLYN p.29 .......................................Ghosts ....................................... MUS PMC3 182 9.48 15.98<br />
MICHAELS, MARK / PATRICIA JOHNSON p.40 ........Ananda Nidra: Blissful Sleep (2 CD) .............SHP PJK3 261 10.96 19.96<br />
MILLER, ROBIN p.29 ....................................Awakening ................................... MUS RBM3 415 9.98 15.98<br />
MUSIC MOSAIC COLLECTION p.37 ....................Didgeridoo Trance Dance 3 ................... WBT MUC3 1108 10.48 16.98<br />
MUSIC MOSAIC COLLECTION p.37 ....................Groove Medicine ............................. WBT MUC3 1010 10.48 16.98<br />
NIALL p.33 ..............................................Medicine Power ...............................NAT PMC3 159 9.48 15.98<br />
OM YOGA / VARIOUS ARTISTS p.37 ..................Om Yoga: Modern <strong>Music</strong> for Vinyasa / Flow ... WBT WEA3 OM500 6.48 10.98<br />
PERMUTT, PHILIP p.40 .................................Little Spirit <strong>Guide</strong> Meditation Album, The ......SHP PMC3 185 9.48 15.98<br />
PREMAL, DEVA p.36 ....................................Password .....................................SAC STQ3 2498 10.98 17.98<br />
PUTUMAYO PRESENTS p.332 ..........................African Beat ..................................AFR PWM3 311 7.98 14.98<br />
PUTUMAYO PRESENTS p.32 ...........................Latin Beat .................................... LAT PWM3 312 7.98 14.98<br />
RAPHAEL / SHAKYA p.29 ..............................Whispering Heart ............................ MUS MLR3 3812 9.98 15.98<br />
ROUGH GUIDE p.32 .....................................Sufi <strong>Music</strong> (2 CD) ............................... INT RGN3 1262 8.96 14.96
Advertisers Index<br />
5TH ELEMENT MUSIC 36<br />
ANGEL CARDS 6<br />
DR. EMMETT MILLER 40<br />
FOUNDATION FOR<br />
SHAMANIC STUDIES 38<br />
INTENTCITY RECORDS 34,35<br />
MAGGIE’S MUSIC 16<br />
MALIMBA RECORDS 33<br />
MONROE INSTITUTE 45<br />
MOTEMA 13<br />
NATIVE HEART 39<br />
NEw EARTH RECORDS 24<br />
NEw VISION MUSIC 7<br />
PUTUMAYO wORLD MUSIC 48<br />
Artists In Review This Issue<br />
ARTIST / Title SEC Catalog # Cost List<br />
STROUTSOS, GARY p.42 ...............................Oasis ........................................ MFR WSM3 28 9.98 16.98<br />
TRUE MIND p.41 ........................................Managing Menopause Naturally .............. DVD KOC4 TMR68 11.98 19.98<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS p.36 ................................108 Sacred Oms ...............................SAC VSP3 124 10.98 16.98<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS p.43 ................................Cafe Buenos Aires (3 CD) ...................... LNG MBB3 7098 14.94 24.99<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS p.43 ................................Cafe Flamenco (3 CD) ......................... LNG MBB3 7095 14.94 24.99<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS p.43 ................................Cafe Ipanema (3 CD) .......................... LNG MBB3 7097 14.94 24.99<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS p.43 ................................Cafe Venezia (3 CD) ........................... LNG MBB3 7096 14.94 24.99<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS p.36 ................................Kirtan Nation (2 CD) ...........................SAC STQ3 1901 11.96 19.96<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS p.36 ................................Songs of Tara .................................SAC STQ3 2120 10.98 17.98<br />
VIRTUE, DOREEN, PH.D. p.40 ..........................Life Purpose Oracle Cards .....................SDL HAYA 2475 9.48 15.95<br />
WILLIAMS, SARAJANE p.42 ...........................Harp <strong>Music</strong> for Healing ....................... MFR STQ3 2128 10.98 17.98<br />
YEE, RODNEY p.41 ......................................Rodney Yee’s Daily Yoga ...................... DVD GAI4 58515 7.48 12.98<br />
ZERO ONE p.33 .........................................Remixed ......................................ELC WAV3 11101 9.98 16.98<br />
REAL MUSIC 27<br />
ROUGH GUIDE 26<br />
SEqUOIA RECORDS 28<br />
SOULFOOD MUSIC 43<br />
SOUND MANIPULATIONS 20<br />
SOUNDINGS OF THE PLANET 41<br />
SOUNDS TRUE 31,32<br />
SPIRIT HAwK 21<br />
SPIRIT MUSIC 44<br />
SPIRIT VOYAGE MUSIC 2<br />
STEVEN HALPERN’S<br />
INNER PEACE MUSIC 46,47<br />
wHITE SwAN 30<br />
<strong>Music</strong> Design / NewSound Kids Sales Reps:<br />
Milwaukee, WI Office<br />
ORDER TOLL FREE: 800•862•7232<br />
Outside U.S.A.: 414•961•8380 Fax: 414•961•8381<br />
Bobby Ringkjob – ext.325 ringkjobb@musicdesign.com<br />
Garrett Davenport – ext.327 davenportg@musicdesign.com<br />
Montpelier, VT Office<br />
Lori Bowman<br />
800•342•0295 fax: 802•225•3677 lori@newsoundmusic.com<br />
www.musicdesign.com<br />
order@musicdesign.com<br />
www.newsoundmusic.com<br />
sales@newsoundmusic.com<br />
20048 NE San Rafael St., Portland, OR 97230-7459<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
5
CARDS<br />
ANGEL®<br />
Expanded Edition with 72 playfully illustrated cards — and more!<br />
One of the most powerful ways to<br />
connect with the ANGELS.<br />
ANGELS are inner companions. They<br />
help us look at the world in ways that<br />
infuse our lives with vitality and assist<br />
us to experience the deepest levels of<br />
understanding, creativity, and caring.<br />
Each ANGEL Card quality evokes your<br />
intuitive abilities and renews your<br />
spiritual connection. Created by<br />
Kathy Tyler and Joy Drake,<br />
the ANGEL Cards are an<br />
international best-seller<br />
— over 1.3 million<br />
sold in 6 languages.<br />
· 20 New Cards<br />
· 20 Bonus Stickers of the new qualities<br />
· Pocket Size Carrying Case<br />
· Sturdy, Flip-Top Box for selecting and storing cards<br />
THE ORIGINAL<br />
ANGEL ®<br />
CARDS<br />
BOOK<br />
With inspirational messages<br />
for each keyword plus<br />
meditations, visualizations,<br />
and journals to use with the<br />
cards. The Silver Anniversary<br />
Expanded Edition Book includes:<br />
· 20 New Qualities · 20 New Inspirational Messages<br />
· World Work Meditation · Additional Journals<br />
6 IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
THE ORIGINAL<br />
4"H x 4"W x 1‑1/4"D<br />
Flip-Top<br />
Box<br />
MDU816 SLRP $11.95 ISBN 0‑934245‑52‑5 UPC 0 94631 00160 4<br />
4"H x 4"W x 5/16"D<br />
MDU827 SLRP $7.95 ISBN 0‑934245‑50‑9<br />
THE ORIGINAL<br />
ANGEL ®<br />
CARDS &<br />
BOOK SET<br />
Cards and Book also come<br />
as an Expanded Edition Set,<br />
wrapped in a special O-card,<br />
easy to display face out or on<br />
its spine. This Silver Anniversary<br />
Card and Book Set contains<br />
expanded editions of: 4"H x 4"W x 1‑7/8"D<br />
· The ANGEL ® CARDS · The ANGEL ® CARDS BOOK<br />
· O-Card outer wrapper secured with shrinkwrap<br />
MDU817 SLRP $18.95 ISBN 0‑934245‑51‑7 UPC 0 94631 00170 3<br />
© 2010 <strong>Music</strong> Design ANGEL ® CARDS ©1981, 2006 Drake & Tyler
<strong>Holiday</strong> <strong>Guide</strong><br />
Ho l i d ay listing b y ar t i s t 8–9<br />
Ce lt i C 14–16<br />
CH a n n u k a H 19<br />
el e C t r o n i C 11<br />
in s t r u m e n ta l 16–19<br />
in t e r n at i o n a l 20<br />
Ja z z 25<br />
nat i v e 21<br />
no s ta l g i C 13<br />
Pi a n o 22, 23<br />
Po P 10, 11<br />
vo C a l 12<br />
RETURN OF HOLIDAY TITLES<br />
Once the season is over, if you wish to return your unsold holiday titles,<br />
you must use the following guidelines:<br />
All <strong>Holiday</strong> Return Requests must be submitted to<br />
your sales rep and must include:<br />
• Separate total piece counts for CDs and DVDs<br />
• Your account name<br />
• Your account number<br />
• Your fax number or email address<br />
All <strong>Holiday</strong> Return Requests must be received no later than<br />
January 13, 2012.<br />
No Return Authorizations for <strong>Holiday</strong> product will be issued after this date.<br />
All returns will be approved by return fax, email, phone or mail.<br />
Authorized <strong>Holiday</strong> Returns must be received in our<br />
Portland, OR warehouse no later than February 10, 2012.<br />
All returns must be pre-authorized. Unauthorized or expired returns<br />
will be returned to you freight collect.<br />
There will be a $0.50 service charge on any items requiring refurbishing.<br />
You bear all costs and risks of delivery to our Portland, OR warehouse.<br />
Credit must be used within one year of date of credit.<br />
Cash refund will not be issued.<br />
<strong>Music</strong> Design / NewSound Kids standard return / exchanges policies apply.<br />
Stanton Lanier<br />
Soulful Piano Melodies<br />
December Peace NWM3 2108<br />
Make the holiday season brighter with the warm, tender piano music of this<br />
2009 Best <strong>Holiday</strong> Album Winner (ZMR <strong>Music</strong> Awards). Serene fantasias on<br />
popular carols, with backing on cello, flugel horn and ethereal vocals.<br />
NEW<br />
A Thousand Years NWM3 5271<br />
Lanier’s graceful piano melodies are the essence of joy and inspiration.<br />
Classical works and hymns featuring his piano alongside Will Ackerman’s<br />
guitar, Jill Haley’s English horn and the vocal textures of Noah Wilding.<br />
Unveiled NWM3 4028<br />
On this album of peaceful melodies, Stanton Lanier surrounds the listener<br />
in soft, acoustic music with a reflective edge. Includes appearances by<br />
Will Ackerman, Jeff Oster, Philip Aaberg and others.<br />
New Vision <strong>Music</strong><br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011 7
2002<br />
Christmas Dreams p.16 .................MUS GPM3 851 9.48 15.98<br />
ADAIR, BEEGIE<br />
Winter Romance p.25 ...................JAZ GRE3 5611 9.48 15.98<br />
ALLEN, GERI<br />
HChild Is Born, A p.25 .................JAZ MTM3 69 9.98 15.98<br />
ANUNA<br />
Christmas Songs p.12 ...................VCL KOC3 9554 6.98 10.98<br />
ARKENSTONE, DAVID<br />
Christmas Lounge p.11. .................ELC GRE3 5567 9.48 15.98<br />
Visions of Christmas p.16 ...............MUS GRE3 5753 9.48 15.98<br />
ARKENSTONE, DIANE / MISHA SEGAL<br />
Christmas Healing Volume 1 p.17 ........MUS EVM3 PVR114 5.98 9.98<br />
BLACK, JOHN<br />
O Tannenbaum p.17 ....................MUS NFR3 1003 9.48 15.98<br />
BLUE FEATHER, DOUGLAS<br />
Kokopelli Christmas p.21 ...............NAT SHR3 6021 9.48 15.98<br />
BOCELLI, ANDREA<br />
My Christmas p.10 .....................POP DEC3 1888 14.48 22.98<br />
Sacred Arias p.12 .......................VCL PHQ3 2600 14.48 21.98<br />
BOTTI, CHRIS<br />
December p.25 .........................JAZ SNY3 75381 6.48 10.98<br />
BOYLE, SUSAN<br />
Gift, The p.10 ..........................POP SNY3 2077 10.98 17.98<br />
BRENNAN, MOYA<br />
Irish Christmas, An p.14 ................CEL EMD3 6784 9.98 16.98<br />
BRICKMAN, JIM<br />
Hymns & Carols of Christmas p.22 ......PNO GRE3 5652 9.48 15.98<br />
BRIGHTMAN, SARAH<br />
Winter Symphony, A p.10 ...............POP EMD3 41232 12.48 19.98<br />
BUBLE, MICHAEL<br />
Let it Snow! p.10 .......................POP WBZ3 9036 4.48 7.98<br />
CELTIC WOMAN<br />
Christmas Celebration, A p.14 ...........CEL EMD3 70124 8.48 14.98<br />
CHIEFTAINS, THE<br />
Bells of Dublin, The p.14 ................CEL RCA3 60824 6.48 10.98<br />
CLARKE FAMILY, THE<br />
Banjo Christmas p.17 ...................MUS LIF3 160051 2.48 4.98<br />
Bluegrass Christmas p.12. ...............VCL LIF3 160039 2.48 4.98<br />
COLE, ALEXIS<br />
Greatest Gift, The -<br />
Songs of the Season p.17 .......MUS MTM3 26 8.98 14.98<br />
COLE, NAT KING<br />
Christmas Song, The p.13 ...............NST EMD3 52602 9.48 15.98<br />
CONNICK JR., HARRY<br />
What A Night! A Christmas Album p.10 . . POP SNY3 737020 10.98 17.98<br />
DALE WARLAND SINGERS<br />
Rose in Winter, A p.12 ..................VCL DND3 1022 10.98 18.98<br />
DEUTER<br />
Celebration of Light p.17. ...............MUS NER3 2905 9.98 16.98<br />
DYLAN, BOB<br />
Christmas In The Heart p.10. ............POP SNY3 7323 10.98 17.98<br />
8<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
HOLIDAY LISTING BY ARTIST<br />
ARTIST / Title HNEW Code Catalog # Cost List ARTIST / Title HNEW Code Catalog # Cost List<br />
ENYA<br />
And Winter Came p.14 ..................CEL REP3 512383 10.98 18.98<br />
EVANCHO, JACKIE<br />
O Holy Night (CD/DVD) p.12 .............VCL SNYV 1151 7.96 13.96<br />
EVERSOUND ARTISTS<br />
Tidings of Joy p.17 .....................MUS EVM3 3509 5.98 9.98<br />
EVERSTAR<br />
Yuletide in the Shire p.17 ................MUS SQR3 303 6.48 9.98<br />
FALLON, ORLA<br />
Winter, Fire and Snow p.14 ..............CEL GRE3 5706 9.48 15.98<br />
GASS, ROBERT / ON WINGS OF SONG<br />
Alleluia / Kyrie p.12 ....................VCL SHM3 6002 9.98 16.98<br />
GROBAN, JOSH<br />
Noel p.10 ..............................POP REP3 231548 8.48 13.98<br />
GUARALDI, VINCE<br />
HCharlie Brown Christmas, A p.25 ......JAZ CCD3 FANT8431 9.98 15.98<br />
HCharlie Brown’s <strong>Holiday</strong> Hits p.25 .....JAZ CCD3 FANT9682 9.98 15.98<br />
HALL, STEVE<br />
Rejoice... A Christmas Celebration p.22 ..PNO BAN3 43 9.48 15.98<br />
IL DIVO<br />
Christmas Collection, The p.12 ..........VCL SNY3 97715 6.48 10.98<br />
IVERS, EILEEN<br />
An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas p.14. .....CEL CPR3 4467 10.48 17.98<br />
JORGE, RICO<br />
<strong>Holiday</strong> Panpipes p.17 ..................MUS LIF3 160031 2.48 4.98<br />
KATER, PETER<br />
Piano Christmas p.22 ...................PNO PLI3 2763 9.48 15.98<br />
Xmas Ecstasy p.22 ......................PNO SWR3 937 9.98 16.98<br />
KITARO<br />
Peace On Earth p.18 ....................MUS DMR3 71014 10.48 16.98<br />
KOBIALKA, DANIEL<br />
In Heavenly Peace p.18. .................MUS DKM3 311 9.98 16.98<br />
KRALL, DIANA<br />
Christmas Songs p.25 ...................JAZ VEQ3 471702 14.48 22.98<br />
LANIER, STANTON<br />
December Peace p.22 ...................PNO NWM3 2108 9.48 15.98<br />
LEWIS, BRENT<br />
Jungle Bells p.20. .......................INT BLP3 9 9.98 15.98<br />
LIEBERT, OTTMAR<br />
Poets & Angels p.20. ....................INT HOM3 77605 10.48 17.98<br />
MA, YO-YO & FRIENDS<br />
Songs of Joy & Peace p.18 ...............MUS SNY3 4414 10.98 18.98<br />
MCKENNITT, LOREENA<br />
Midwinter Night’s Dream, A p.14 ........CEL VEQ3 8544 14.48 22.98<br />
To Drive the Cold Winter Away p.14 .....CEL VEQ3 795602 14.48 22.98<br />
MCLACHLAN, SARAH<br />
Wintersong p.10. .......................POP SNY3 81504 6.48 10.98<br />
MCLAUGHLIN, MARY<br />
Gaelic Christmas, A p.15 ................CEL GMZ3 404 9.48 15.98<br />
MILLER, ROBIN<br />
And the Angels Sang p.18 ...............MUS RBM3 2060 9.98 15.98<br />
CEL – CeltiC CHA – CHANNUKAH ELC – eleCtRONiC / lOUNGe INT – iNteRNAtiONAl JAZ – JAzz<br />
MUS – iNStRUMeNtAl NAT – NAtiVe / iNFlUeNCeD NST – Nostalgic PNO–PIANO POP–POP VCL – VocalĦ
NAKAI, R. CARLOS / WILLIAM EATON<br />
Winter Dreams for Christmas p.21 .......NAT CAN3 7007 9.98 15.98<br />
NARADA ARTISTS<br />
Best of Celtic Christmas (2 CD) p.15 ......CEL NAR3 72438 8.96 14.96<br />
Best of Narada Christmas (2 CD) p.18 .....MUS NAR3 6141 8.96 14.96<br />
NI RIAIN, NOIRIN<br />
Celtic Joy – A Celebration of Christmas p.15 CEL STQ3 1292 10.98 17.98<br />
NORLAND WIND<br />
December Journey p.15 .................CEL ALU3 3001 6.48 10.98<br />
O’CONNOR, MARK<br />
HAppalachian Christmas, An p.25 .......JAZ OMC3 16 6.48 10.98<br />
OLDFIELD, TERRY<br />
Silent Night, Peaceful Night p.18. ........MUS NER3 3014 9.98 16.98<br />
OT AZOJ KLEZMERBAND<br />
Channukah - Festival of Lights p.19 ......CHA ORM3 58652 7.48 12.98<br />
PANDOLFI, EMILE<br />
In The <strong>Holiday</strong> Spirit! p.23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PNO MMC3 204 9.48 15.98<br />
Sleigh Ride p.23 ........................PNO MMC3 239 9.48 15.98<br />
White Christmas p.23 ...................PNO MMC3 911 9.48 15.98<br />
PETTEWAY, AL / AMY WHITE<br />
Winter Tidings p.18 ....................MUS MMU3 234 8.98 14.98<br />
PHILLIPS, BARRY & FRIENDS<br />
Colonial Christmas p.18 ................MUS GMZ3 139 9.48 15.98<br />
PINK MARTINI<br />
Joy to the World p.11 ...................POP HNZ3 7 9.98 16.98<br />
PUTUMAYO PRESENTS<br />
HCeltic Christmas p.15 .................CEL PWM3 314 7.98 14.98<br />
Christmas Around the World p.20. .......INT PWM3 218 7.98 14.98<br />
Jazz & Blues Christmas, A p.25 ..........JAZ PWM3 285 7.98 14.98<br />
Jewish Odyssey, A p.19 ..................CHA PWM3 182 7.98 14.98<br />
New Orleans Christmas p.20. ............INT PWM3 256 7.98 14.98<br />
RED NATIVITY<br />
Heavenly Peace p.21 ....................NAT RSA3 10 10.98 18.98<br />
One Holy Night p.21 ...................NAT RSA3 1 10.98 18.98<br />
RIDEOUT, BONNIE / MAGGIE SANSONE / AL PETTEWAY<br />
Scottish Christmas, A p.15 ..............CEL MMU3 215 8.98 14.98<br />
ROBERTSON, KIM<br />
Christmas Lullaby p.15 .................CEL GMZ3 134 9.48 15.98<br />
SANSONE, MAGGIE / ENSEMBLE GALILEI<br />
Ancient Noels p.15. .....................CEL MMU3 108 8.98 14.98<br />
SERRIE, JONN<br />
Christmas Prayers p.19 ..................MUS VLT3 15229 10.48 16.98<br />
SINATRA, FRANK<br />
Frank Sinatra Christmas Collection p.13. ..NST RHI3 6542 8.98 14.98<br />
SPALDING, CADENCE / MARS LASAR<br />
<strong>Holiday</strong> High p.12. .....................VCL SMN3 1007 9.48 15.98<br />
STAGG, HILARY<br />
Winter Magic p.19. .....................MUS RMZ3 4556 9.98 15.98<br />
STING<br />
If On A Winter’s Night p.11 .............POP DGG3 174 14.48 22.98<br />
HOLIDAY LISTING BY ARTIST<br />
ARTIST / Title HNEW Code Catalog # Cost List ARTIST / Title HNEW Code Catalog # Cost List<br />
SWEETEN, ANN<br />
Christmas Presence p.23. ................PNO ORB3 61890 9.98 15.98<br />
TAYLOR, JAMES<br />
James Taylor at Christmas p.11 ..........POP SNY3 700323 7.98 13.98<br />
TINGSTAD, ERIC / NANCY RUMBEL<br />
Comfort and Joy p.19 ...................MUS CTZ3 104 8.98 14.98<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS<br />
Celebrate Hanukkah p.19 ...............CHA KOC3 10016 8.98 14.98<br />
Christmas Crooners p.13 ................NST GRE3 5247 9.48 15.98<br />
Christmas Favorites p.13 ................NST CRG3 160002 3.48 5.98<br />
Dark Noel, A p.11 ......................POP PJK3 198 3.48 5.98<br />
Great Women of Christmas p.13 .........NST GRE3 5423 9.48 15.98<br />
Home For the <strong>Holiday</strong>s p.13. ............NST<br />
Merry Mixmas –<br />
LIF3 160028 2.48 4.98<br />
Christmas Classics Remixed p.11 ...ELC CAX3 889 9.48 15.98<br />
Peace On Earth p.11 ....................POP GRE3 5579 9.48 15.98<br />
Prayer For Peace p.21 ...................NAT SWR3 926 9.98 16.98<br />
VIVA LA MUSICA<br />
Celtic Celebration p.16. .................CEL LIF3 160032 2.48 4.98<br />
WARINER, STEVE<br />
HGuitar Christmas p.11 ................POP CGP3 1966 8.98 14.98<br />
WINDHAM HILL ARTISTS<br />
Celtic Christmas III p.16 ................CEL WHZ3 WH11233 6.48 10.98<br />
Winter’s Songs –<br />
A Windham Hill Christmas p.19 ...MUS SNY3 WH77687 8.98 14.98<br />
WINSTON, GEORGE<br />
December: Enhanced Anniversary Edition p.23 . . PNO WHZ3 11611 6.48 10.98<br />
CEL – CeltiC CHA – CHANNUKAH ELC – eleCtRONiC / lOUNGe INT – iNteRNAtiONAl JAZ – JAzz<br />
MUS – iNStRUMeNtAl NAT – NAtiVe / iNFlUeNCeD NST – Nostalgic PNO–PIANO POP–POP VCL – VocalĦ<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011 9
Po P<br />
BOCELLI, ANDREA<br />
My Christmas<br />
DEC3 1888 CD $14.48/22.98<br />
Andrea Bocelli’s first Christmas album offers<br />
the exact sort of moving, emotional experience<br />
that you would expect from the artist.<br />
The arrangements mostly lie on the classically-tinged<br />
side, as Bocelli sings sacred and<br />
seasonal chestnuts against light, dreamy<br />
orchestration with the elegance and reverence<br />
he is known for. Some of these renditions are<br />
truly beautiful and memorable. For example,<br />
Bocelli delivers one of the most uplifting performances<br />
of “The Lord’s Prayer” to date, and his version of “White Christmas” accurately<br />
conveys the festive whimsy of the season. Bocelli is joined by an extensive roster<br />
of guest artists that include Natalie Cole (“The Christmas Song”), Reba McEntire (“Blue<br />
Christmas”), Mary J. Blige (“What Child is This”) and others, who add a bit of extra color.<br />
BOYLE, SUSAN<br />
Gift, The<br />
SNY3 2077 CD $10.98/17.98<br />
Susan Boyle, the regal mezzo-soprano who<br />
disproved the axiom that magazine cover<br />
looks trump talent when it comes to selling<br />
albums, returns with her much awaited<br />
second release THE GIFT. The holiday<br />
themed release pairs traditional Christmas<br />
carols with pop fare that has been transformed<br />
into dreamy confections that echo the<br />
emotions of the season. Boyle’s lush voice is<br />
in top form here soaring in each song with<br />
silky sweetness, while a chorus provides backing during the climactic moments of each<br />
song. Boyle had commented that she wanted the album to have a ‘60s holiday music<br />
approach and it does — the arrangements are heavily based on orchestration and choirs,<br />
giving the music a reverent, classic sound rather than a over-stylized modern approach.<br />
BRIGHTMAN, SARAH<br />
Winter Symphony, A<br />
EMD3 41232 CD $12.48/19.98<br />
With her first holiday themed album, Sarah<br />
Brightman continues in the vein of her last<br />
album SYMPHONY, focusing on arrangements<br />
that are dramatic and a tad epic with<br />
rock-tinged orchestral instrumentation as a<br />
backdrop. A WINTER SYMPHONY’s song<br />
selection has more in common with Brightman’s<br />
studio albums than it does with your<br />
typical Christmas album; she provides a mix<br />
of winter-themed pop songs and classical<br />
tunes, along with a few traditional Christmas songs like “Silent Night” and “In the<br />
Bleak Midwinter.” Brightman’s grand voice is on full display here, rising rapturously<br />
above the swells of strings and pop rhythm. Of particular note is her powerful duet with<br />
Fernando Lima on Loris Ceroni’s “Ave Maria,” the soaring crescendos of which are filled<br />
with emotion and feeling.<br />
BUBLE, MICHAEL<br />
Let it Snow!<br />
WBZ3 9036 CD $4.48/7.98<br />
Looking for a new Christmas album that<br />
would go well with your collection of classic<br />
yuletide crooners like Frank Sinatra, Bing<br />
Crosby and Nat King Cole? If so, then look<br />
no further than this holiday album from<br />
one of today’s hottest young singing sensations<br />
— Michael Buble. Not since the Rat<br />
Pack days has an artist displayed this sort of<br />
playful energy and elegant sophistication in<br />
his singing. LET IT SNOW! is a six-song EP<br />
featuring Buble’s renditions of the title track, “The Christmas Song,” “White Christmas,”<br />
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and “Grown-Up Christmas List.”<br />
10<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
CONNICK JR., HARRY<br />
What A Night!<br />
A Christmas Album<br />
SNY3 737020 CD $10.98/17.98<br />
With his fusion of Sinatra-style crooning, big<br />
band pizzazz and New Orleans jazz flirtations,<br />
Harry Connick Jr. has cemented his<br />
role as one of today’s most impressive jazz<br />
musicians. Adding to his successful string of<br />
holiday albums, WHAT A NIGHT! strikes a<br />
perfect balance between old-school big band<br />
and contemporary jazz. That mix of retro and<br />
modern, with an added dash of improvisation,<br />
makes for some very unique and likeable versions of classics. Songs like “O Come<br />
All Ye Faithful” and “Winter Wonderland” (sung with his daughter) feature well-known<br />
lyrics alongside melodies that are spiced up with rhythms, festive brass and a touch of<br />
groove. Also noteworthy are Connick’s renditions of “Zat You Santa Claus” from Louis<br />
Armstrong and the gospel/blues duet “Song for the Hopeful” with Kim Burrell.<br />
DYLAN, BOB<br />
Christmas In The Heart<br />
SNY3 7323 CD $10.98/17.98<br />
With his familiar gravelly voice and a nod<br />
to the classic arrangements of yesteryear,<br />
the legendary Bob Dylan sets out to redefine<br />
the sounds of Christmas music with this<br />
holiday offering. Dylan courts a pretty<br />
diverse set of themes and influences on the<br />
album. “Must Be Santa” is performed in<br />
a fast-paced German polka style and a few<br />
of the cuts bear a bluesy quality — a style<br />
of music that Dylan’s voice is a good fit for.<br />
“Silver Bells” has a country twang to it and several songs (“The First Noel,” “I’ll Be<br />
Home For Christmas”) adopt the gauzy strings and nostalgic choir backing that were<br />
common in the ‘50s. Dylan’s distinctive singing gives the music character, and will<br />
appeal to his longtime fans. All U.S. royalties are being donated to Feeding America.<br />
GROBAN, JOSH<br />
Noel<br />
REP3 231548 CD $8.48/13.98<br />
It’s not a surprise that Josh Groban has the<br />
passionate fanbase that he has — his rich,<br />
meaty baritone voice and melodic sensibilities<br />
are among some of the most impressive<br />
in modern pop music. With his first<br />
Christmas offering, he sticks to the formula<br />
that he is known for, featuring arrangements<br />
that match his singing with light symphonic<br />
orchestration, pop music elements and<br />
guest performances by the Mormon Tabernacle<br />
Choir, Brian McKnight and Faith Hill. In a smart move, producer David Foster<br />
garlands the album in musical effects that give the music a “magical” feel, calling<br />
to mind perennial Christmas classics from decades past. Highlights include Groban<br />
version of “Ave Maria,” “What Child is This” and the original song “Thankful.”<br />
MCLACHLAN, SARAH<br />
Wintersong<br />
SNY3 81504 CD $6.48/10.98<br />
Sarah McLachlan is one of today’s most<br />
beautiful and expressive vocal talents. On<br />
WINTERSONG, her first holiday endeavor,<br />
McLachlan paints a wintry landscape that<br />
stays true to form, with melodies that are<br />
dreamy yet bittersweet. Her voice, with its<br />
whispery softness that is occasionally cracked<br />
by a yearning soprano and a lilt that recalls<br />
Irish “sean-nos” singing, sounds gorgeous on<br />
this release, fitting well with the material. Long<br />
time producer Pierre Marchand fills the album with arrangements that break from the<br />
norm, like a rendition of “What Child is This?” that uses a waltzing minor key version of<br />
the melody and velvety smooth vocals. Another highlight is her rendition of Vince<br />
Guaraldi’s “Christmas Time is Here,” with guest Diana Krall.
Po P<br />
PINK MARTINI<br />
Joy to the World<br />
HNZ3 7 CD $9.98/16.98<br />
Bubbly jazz, retro lounge and technicolor fantasies<br />
of ‘50s era holiday music come together<br />
in the festive potpourri of Pink Martini. The<br />
band, who has developed a following with<br />
their nouveau martini-bar multicultural<br />
fusion music, brings many of these same<br />
sensibilities to their first holiday outing, providing<br />
unique renditions of classic holiday<br />
songs, Jewish Hanukkah pieces, the opera<br />
music of Verdi and even a taste of Christmas<br />
in Hawaii. All of the songs have a jazz lounge essence to them, pairing shuffling rhythms<br />
with piano, keyboards and strings, as China Forbes’ intoxicating voice leads the way.<br />
Things get particularly fun with the island slide guitar-laden “Snowglobe Christmas”<br />
and the percolating Latin jazz rendition of the Jewish song “Ocho Kandelikas.”<br />
STING<br />
If On A Winter’s Night<br />
DGG3 174 CD $14.48/22.98<br />
Sting’s first seasonal album reflects his strong<br />
individuality through fifteen pieces of music<br />
chosen with the goal of capturing the subtle<br />
beauty that exists in the cold bleakness of<br />
winter. The album features, and was clearly<br />
inspired by, early music from English and<br />
Irish traditions. Everything from the stripped<br />
back arrangements that focus on acoustic<br />
instruments to his mellow voice (his English<br />
accent comes through more clearly on this<br />
album than many of his past releases) called to mind the classic traveling minstrel of<br />
Olde English tradition and lore. There are not many popular carols here — the closest to<br />
recognizable cuts are “Gabriel’s Message” and “Lo How A Rose E’er Blooming.”<br />
TAYLOR, JAMES<br />
James Taylor at Christmas<br />
SNY3 700323 CD $7.98/13.98<br />
The quintessential singer/songwriter and<br />
folk-rock veteran turns his attentions to the<br />
sweet sounds of Christmas with JAMES<br />
TAYLOR AT CHRISTMAS — the artist’s take<br />
on well-known seasonal songs. Taylor’s<br />
characteristic low-key, laid-back and very<br />
earnest style gives the songs a cheerful sense<br />
of warmth, which fits well with the season<br />
at hand. As a backdrop, the artist surrounds<br />
himself with light, elegant jazz and the occasional<br />
bluesy folk touch — the result is renditions of songs like “Winter Wonderland”<br />
and Joni Mitchell’s “River” that gently percolate with rhythm, bass, strings and a bit of<br />
piano. Taylor’s duet with Natalie Cole sparkles with their playful interplay, benefiting<br />
from their friendly chemistry.<br />
ARKENSTONE, DAVID<br />
Christmas Lounge<br />
GRE3 5567 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
CHRISTMAS LOUNGE is unique for the<br />
David Arkenstone. These perennials are<br />
given a chilled electronic gloss, which pairs<br />
their familiar melodies with mellow ambience,<br />
retro-sounding instruments like vibraphone,<br />
jazz elements and urban-flavored<br />
rhythms. The music has a decidedly cosmopolitan<br />
flair, like something you might hear<br />
in an actual lounge, an upscale store or a<br />
coffee shop. Arkenstone’s arrangements here<br />
are unique, often featuring segments of the song’s main melody interspersed with atmospheric<br />
grooves to give the songs a kick. If you like your Christmas music with more of<br />
an urban vibe, you’ll definitely want CHRISTMAS LOUNGE in your stocking.<br />
el e C t r o n i C / lo u n g e<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS<br />
Dark Noel, A<br />
PJK3 198 CD $3.48/5.98<br />
Imagine the dark cathedral pop of Enigma or<br />
Delerium, mix it with equal parts renaissance<br />
period music and Olde English Christmas<br />
cheer and you’ll get an idea of what A DARK<br />
NOEL offers. From Projekt Records, a label<br />
whose catalog of ambient and darkwave<br />
music continues to impress, the album offers<br />
a unique twist on holiday music that trades<br />
jingly holiday fanfares for a more gothic<br />
sound that would be well-placed in a rendition<br />
of Dickens’ “The Christmas Carol.” Arcanta opens the album with “Carol of the<br />
Bells”— a somber choral piece dipped in haunting mood. Voltaire offers a jaunty medley<br />
of popular carols with his distinctive shadowy cabaret sound. Other highlights include<br />
music from Love Spirals Downward, The Cruxshadows, Faith and the Muse and more.<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS<br />
Peace On Earth<br />
GRE3 5579 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
PEACE ON EARTH brings together many<br />
of today’s hottest performers to celebrate<br />
the sacred sound of the holidays. The album<br />
centers on softer, more spiritual themed<br />
songs of the season (“Silent Night” and “Ave<br />
Maria” as opposed to “White Christmas”),<br />
with arrangements that are both gentle, yet<br />
with a pop sheen. The album begins with<br />
Sarah McLachlan’s haunting rendition of<br />
“What Child Is This,” sung in a lower key<br />
and utilizing her unique vocal style. Amy Grant, who has a strong following at the<br />
holidays with her releases, is featured with “Welcome To Our World,” a sweet seasonal<br />
ballad. Includes songs by Natalie Cole, Libera, Linda Eder, Shawn Colvin and others.<br />
WARINER, STEVE<br />
Guitar Christmas<br />
CGP3 1966 CD $8.98/14.98<br />
Country artist Steve Wariner has over 18<br />
albums to his name, ten number one songs<br />
and writing credits for several hits from<br />
Clink Black and Garth Brooks. The artist<br />
continues to show his guitar chops with this<br />
holiday offering, featuring Wariner’s take<br />
on twelve Christmas classics. Rather than<br />
being a full-on country outing, the music is<br />
very understated and low-key, focusing on<br />
acoustic guitar with little accompaniment.<br />
Wariner switches up the focal instrument on each track, from steel string guitar on<br />
“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” to electric guitar on “The Christmas Song” to Olympia<br />
dulcimer on “I Saw Three Ships.” The effect gives the renditions a mix of folk, Celtic<br />
and country influences, with appeal for those who simply like hearing instrumental<br />
Christmas songs performed on guitar.<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS<br />
Merry Mixmas –<br />
Christmas Classics Remixed<br />
CAX3 889 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
Vintage Christmas songs from Bing Crosby,<br />
Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole and more are<br />
getting an overhaul for the new millennium!<br />
MERRY MIXMAS features fifteen holiday<br />
treasures that have been remixed by some of<br />
the top names in lounge and electronic music.<br />
The music retains much of the magic of<br />
the original pieces; only they’ve been souped<br />
up with new rhythms, dreamy synthesizers<br />
and ample use of sampling. The result is a set of tunes ideal for a cocktail<br />
lounge or a merry holiday get-together with friends. Included are Bent’s remix of<br />
Crosby’s “Winter Wonderland” and Alex Kidd’s remix of “Santa Baby” from Eartha Kitt.<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011 11
vo C a l<br />
ANUNA<br />
Christmas Songs<br />
KOC3 9554 CD $6.98/10.98<br />
Although best known as the choral ensemble<br />
that lent their pipes to the Riverdance extravaganza<br />
in the late 90’s, Michael McGlynn’s<br />
project Anuna has been performing for over<br />
15 years and has had more than 100 singers<br />
associated with it (there’s usually 10–15 at<br />
any given time). CHRISTMAS SONGS, an<br />
album of seasonal tunes, displays the sheer<br />
power and haunting beauty of the group’s<br />
singing. Most of the music is sung a cappella<br />
with only very minor instrumentation in the backdrop; the harmonies primarily consist<br />
of additional vocals from the group. The repertoire features well-known standards<br />
(“O Holy Night,” “Away in a Manger”) and lesser-known pieces (“Riu Riu,” “Winter,<br />
Fire & Snow”), each performed with the group’s trademark traditional Irish sound.<br />
BOCELLI, ANDREA<br />
Sacred Arias<br />
PHQ3 2600 CD $14.48/21.98<br />
Some of the most breathtakingly beautiful<br />
melodies and choruses ever written were<br />
created with sacred intentions; designed as<br />
a means for the composer to express pure<br />
love and devotion to God. SACRED ARIAS,<br />
from famed tenor Andrea Bocelli features<br />
lush, orchestrated renditions of some of these<br />
classic masterworks, including Franck’s<br />
“Panis Angelicus,” Mozart’s “Ave Verum<br />
Corpus” and three unique versions of the<br />
“Ave Maria,” from composers Caccini, Gounod and Schubert respectively. In each, Bocelli’s<br />
soaring tenor voice is a source of power and magnificence, taking the listeners to<br />
heaven and back with the sheer emotion he conveys. Also includes renditions of “Silent<br />
Night” and “Adestes Fideles.”<br />
CLARKE FAMILY, THE<br />
Bluegrass Christmas<br />
LIF3 160039 CD $2.48/4.98<br />
Enjoy a splash of bluegrass music this holiday<br />
season with BLUEGRASS CHRISTMAS, a<br />
collection of upbeat, vibrant bluegrass renditions<br />
of popular Christmas songs. The album<br />
is divided equally between vocal and instrumental<br />
cuts; the latter features the vocals of<br />
Billy Oskay, whose catchy drawl brings a<br />
unique twist to songs like “Go Tell It On the<br />
Mountain” and the humorous “Christmas<br />
Shine,” an ode to toasting the season with a<br />
bottle of moonshine. The instrumental cuts feature the skilled banjo and violin playing of<br />
the Clarke Family, who give “Frosty the Snowman,” “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and<br />
“We Three Kings” an old-fashioned American sound.<br />
DALE WARLAND SINGERS<br />
Rose in Winter, A<br />
DND3 1022 CD $10.98/18.98<br />
The Dale Warland Singers were founded in<br />
1972, and have since traveled and toured<br />
around the world, captivating audiences<br />
with their lush, gorgeous choral singing.<br />
They have worked alongside some of the<br />
music world’s most illustrious conductors<br />
and musicians, including Sir Neville<br />
Marriner, Leonard Slatkin and the Dave<br />
Brubeck Quartet. A ROSE IN WINTER<br />
captures these heavenly voices in all of<br />
their glory. Recorded at the University of St. Thomas Chapel in St. Paul Minnesota, the<br />
album features their voices without enhancement, so that the listener can experience the<br />
exultation of hearing the singers live. The songs featured are a selection of winter and<br />
Christmas themed pieces, largely from the Renaissance period, including compositions<br />
from Tavener, de Victoria, Sanstrom, Poulenc, Messiaen and many others.<br />
12<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
EVANCHO, JACKIE<br />
O Holy Night (CD/DVD)<br />
SNYV 1151 CD $7.96/13.96<br />
Singing prodigy Jackie Evancho was only<br />
10 years old when this work was recorded,<br />
yet her remarkable voice bears the tone and<br />
depth of a seasoned soprano. The young<br />
phenom became a sensation after appearing<br />
on “America’s Got Talent,”where she stunned<br />
listeners with her delicate renditions of<br />
opera classics. Her first post-show release,<br />
Evancho’s O HOLY NIGHT is combo-pack<br />
that offers a 4-song EP of holiday-themed<br />
songs and live footage and interviews from her span on “America’s Got Talent.” Starting<br />
with the EP, it’s hard not to be mesmerized by the gentle power of her voice as she sings<br />
“O Holy Night” or Franck’s “Panis Angelicus.” Her cover of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s<br />
“Pie Jesu” is beautiful and a nod to her idol Sarah Brightman, while “Silent Night”<br />
balances grandeur with serenity. The DVD features her on air performances from the<br />
show (Puccini’s “O Mio Babbino Caro,” “Time to Say Goodbye,” etc.), her audition video<br />
of “Panis Angelicus” and an interview from after the show’s finale.<br />
GASS, ROBERT /<br />
ON WINGS OF SONG<br />
Alleluia / Kyrie<br />
SHM3 6002 CD $9.98/16.98<br />
This two part program features just under an<br />
hour of unbelievably peaceful, spiritual music<br />
from Robert Gass and his choral assemblage<br />
On Wings of Song. The first cut features<br />
the word “Alleluia,” a Latin expression of<br />
praise to God, sung against the backdrop of<br />
Pachelbel’s “Canon in D.” The second track<br />
is themed after the words “Kyrie Eliason”<br />
(“Christ Have Mercy”). It presents the chant<br />
alongside synthesizers and light rhythm.<br />
IL DIVO<br />
Christmas Collection, The<br />
SNY3 97715 CD $6.48/10.98<br />
Il Divo, the four man vocal ensemble that<br />
burst onto the scene in 2004 with their<br />
ambitious blend of orchestral opera and<br />
pop music, returns with their first album<br />
of Christmas fare. Being their second collaboration,<br />
it’s noticeable that the men are<br />
becoming more comfortable harmonizing<br />
with one another. Rather than displaying<br />
across the board polyphony, the songs here<br />
alternate among the singers allowing each<br />
of them to show off their considerable individual vocal strengths. The selection of<br />
songs skews towards traditional holiday fare on the sacred side, like “Adestes Fideles,”<br />
“The Lord’s Prayer” and “Ave Maria,” the latter of which the men’s voices are particularly<br />
ideal for. If you’re one of the thousands that enjoyed their self-titled debut, you’ll<br />
certainly find this album a delight as well.<br />
SPALDING, CADENCE / MARS LASAR<br />
<strong>Holiday</strong> High<br />
SMN3 1007 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
Previously released as A STAR IS BORN,<br />
HOLIDAY HIGH features Mars Lasar transforming<br />
popular holiday classics into ethereal<br />
confections that listeners will be eager<br />
to savor. The album doubles as an introduction<br />
to talented songstress Cadence Spalding,<br />
whose breathy, delicate vocals flutter through<br />
the album’s ten songs, lending the familiar<br />
pieces an air of angelic beauty. Overdubbing<br />
and layering is used to give the music an<br />
Enya-esque lightness, which pairs beautifully with Lasar’s gentle rhythms and serene<br />
synthesized backdrops. Besides the traditional songs (“All is Calm” is “Silent Night,”<br />
“Stars in the Sky” is “Away in a Manger,” etc.), a handful of Lasar originals are included,<br />
which fit well with the album’s festive theme. Lasar’s arrangements are inventive, maintaining<br />
the lyrical flow of the holiday standards, while introducing new twists on the<br />
melodies to keep them fresh.
no s ta l g i C<br />
COLE, NAT KING<br />
Christmas Song, The<br />
EMD3 52602 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
THE CHRISTMAS SONG is Nat King Cole<br />
at his finest, performing holiday favorites<br />
in his own inimitable style. Some of the outstanding<br />
remixed and digitally remastered<br />
selections include “Deck the Halls,” “O, Little<br />
Town of Bethlehem,” “Joy to the World” and<br />
“Silent Night.” Bonus tracks include “God<br />
Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “O, Come All<br />
Ye Faithful” and a duet of “The Christmas<br />
Song” with his daughter Natalie Cole. Also<br />
included are an introduction and closing dialog by Nat, the original 1946 version of<br />
“The Christmas Song” and two new tracks — “Happy New Year” and “Toys for Tots.”<br />
SINATRA, FRANK<br />
Frank Sinatra<br />
Christmas Collection, The<br />
RHI3 6542 CD $8.98/14.98<br />
Revel in classic Christmas cheer with<br />
this album of holiday fare from “Old<br />
Blue Eyes” himself, Frank Sinatra. One<br />
thing that definitely sets this album apart<br />
from the rest is the fact that it features<br />
four never before released songs — “The<br />
Christmas Song” and “White Christmas”<br />
(both with Bing Crosby), “Santa Claus is<br />
Coming to Town” and “Silent Night.”<br />
When you consider how extensive Sinatra’s catalog is, four unreleased tunes is quite a<br />
find. Not to mention, few artists were able to capture the warmth and nostalgia of the<br />
season quite like Sinatra did. Other cuts include “Twelve Days of Christmas,” “Go Tell It<br />
On The Mountain” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS<br />
Christmas Crooners<br />
GRE3 5247 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
CHRISTMAS CROONERS transports the<br />
listener back to the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s, when<br />
singers like Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole<br />
were staples on the airwaves. Of course, this<br />
is also generally considered to be the golden<br />
age of Christmas music; the time when many<br />
of today’s favorites were either created or had<br />
come into public consciousness. This selection<br />
of crooners features the velvety singing<br />
of luminaries like Dean Martin, Vic Damone,<br />
Harry Belafonte, Andy Williams, Perry Como and many other artists revered for their<br />
tender, intimate voices. The music is comprised entirely of classic holiday evergreens<br />
like “Winter Wonderland,” “Sleigh Ride,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,”<br />
capturing the joyous essence of the Christmas season.<br />
MTM369<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS<br />
Christmas Favorites<br />
CRG3 160002 CD $3.48/5.98<br />
CHRISTMAS FAVORITES offers a stocking<br />
full of classic Christmas songs that you<br />
can savor as you tear into that mountain of<br />
presents. Included are recordings from the<br />
‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s that are treasured for their<br />
festive charm, including “White Christmas”<br />
from Bing Crosby, “Silent Night” from The<br />
Drifters, “Ave Maria” from Mario Lanza,<br />
“Jingle Bells” from Rosemary Clooney and<br />
many other favorites. The music sounds as<br />
if you are listening to the radio during these bygone eras, adding both nostalgia and<br />
good cheer to one’s holiday celebrations. Also included are songs by Brook Benton,<br />
The Platters, Mahalia Jackson, Nat King Cole and Dick Powell.<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS<br />
Great Women of Christmas<br />
GRE3 5423 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
GREAT WOMEN OF CHRISTMAS celebrates<br />
some of the beautiful and soulful voices<br />
whose music has entertained listeners for<br />
generations. The collection features holiday<br />
staples like Eartha Kitt’s sensually playful<br />
“Santa Baby” and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’<br />
Around the Christmas Tree,” which are<br />
mainstays of holiday radio during the<br />
Christmas season. Rosemary Clooney’s rendition<br />
of “White Christmas” really captures<br />
the tenderness of the song, and the signature voice of Etta James brings a fresh sound to<br />
“Winter Wonderland.” Also including Doris Day, Dinah Shore, Dionne Warwick, Peggy<br />
Lee and others, this compilation highlights the nostalgic joy that Christmas music brings,<br />
not to mention the women whose voices are irreplaceable during the season.<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS<br />
Home For the <strong>Holiday</strong>s<br />
LIF3 160028 CD $2.48/4.98<br />
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS is like a time<br />
capsule from the ‘50s and ‘60s, featuring<br />
original recordings of classic holiday fare<br />
from some of the great singers of the generation.<br />
What would the Christmas season<br />
be without hearing Nat King Cole sing about<br />
roasting chestnuts and Big Crosby muse<br />
about a “White Christmas”? These songs are<br />
featured alongside classics from Rosemary<br />
Clooney (“Little Drummer Boy”), Gene<br />
Autry (“Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” “Frosty the Snowman”), Judy Garland<br />
(“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”) and many others, all adding festivity and<br />
fun to the holidays. Adults and kids alike will take a shine to these vintage recordings of<br />
timeless Christmas songs, lending a playful air to the joyous season.<br />
On her first ever holiday album, Geri Allen dives into her oceandeep<br />
musical spirituality to come up with a series of angelic solo<br />
arrangements to laud the King of Kings in the season of giving.<br />
“A jazz pianist of mountainous experience and skill”<br />
– All About Jazz<br />
“One of the most adept, graceful jazz pianists playing in today’s scene”<br />
–Jazz Review<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011 13
Ce lt i C<br />
BRENNAN, MOYA<br />
Irish Christmas, An<br />
EMD3 6784 CD $9.98/16.98<br />
On Moya Brennan’s first holiday album,<br />
she continues along the path she forged<br />
with TWO HORIZONS, bathing her rich,<br />
delicate vocals in ethereal ambience dotted<br />
with traditional instrumentation. Featuring<br />
traditional holiday tunes with an Irish spin,<br />
Brennan’s best renditions on the album are<br />
those with a defined sense of mood. Her<br />
version of “Gabriel’s Message” calls to mind<br />
the bittersweet beauty of “Theme from<br />
Harry’s Game,” with her hushed vocals floating amongst billowing ambience and a<br />
gorgeous backdrop of strings. “In the Bleak Midwinter” is another gem, contrasting the<br />
melancholy of the title with a harp-driven arrangement that is warm and quietly joyful.<br />
CELTIC WOMAN<br />
Christmas Celebration, A<br />
EMD3 70124 CD $8.48/14.98<br />
Chloe, Orla, Lisa, Meav and Mairead, the<br />
quintet known as Celtic Woman, continue to<br />
take the world by storm with their gorgeous<br />
four-part vocal harmonies and Mairead’s<br />
stirring strings. Now, with their first holiday<br />
recording, the women capture the spirit and<br />
joy of the holiday with a selection of holiday<br />
fare that includes perennial favorites (“White<br />
Christmas,” “Silent Night”), classical pieces<br />
(Franck’s “Panis Angelicus”) and Celticoriented<br />
tunes (“Wexford Carol,” “Don Oiche Ud I bMeithil”). Their sweet singing is<br />
set against swells of orchestral strings and traditional Irish instrumentation, with some<br />
choral accompaniment. The music is fun and festive with a tender Irish quality that is<br />
distinctly Celtic Woman.<br />
CHIEFTAINS, THE<br />
Bells of Dublin, The<br />
RCA3 60824 CD $6.48/10.98<br />
Putting the “merry” back into Merry<br />
Christmas, Irish music’s elder statesmen,<br />
The Chieftains, offer up an eclectic<br />
assortment of holiday favorites designed<br />
to add a little good-natured cheer to the<br />
holiday season. Featuring an extensive<br />
(and rather diverse) roster of guests<br />
including: Jackson Browne, Marianne<br />
Faithfull, Elvis Costello, Ricky Lee<br />
Jones and Nanci Griffith, the ensemble<br />
provides nearly two dozen festive gems for your seasonal listening pleasure. Highlights<br />
include “The Wexford Carol,” “O Holy Night” and “O Come All Ye Faithful.”<br />
ENYA<br />
And Winter Came<br />
REP3 512383 CD $10.98/18.98<br />
While Enya’s AND WINTER CAME is being<br />
toted as her first holiday release, this isn’t<br />
an album destined to be confined to the<br />
Christmas season. Aside from two holiday<br />
classics, a gorgeous, bittersweet rendition of<br />
“O Come O Come Emmanuel” and a new<br />
overdubbed version of “Oiche Chiuin” (Silent<br />
Night), the music has more in common with<br />
the music of Enya’s proper albums, only<br />
centered on the theme of winter. The album<br />
begins with the instrumental title piece, a tradition that goes back to Enya’s first album,<br />
followed by a collection of songs that blend her tender voice against light waltz beats<br />
and dreamy synthscapes. The album offers a mix of lightly rhythmic songs and heartfelt<br />
ballads that show the aching beauty of Enya’s timeless voice.<br />
14<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
FALLON, ORLA<br />
Winter, Fire and Snow<br />
GRE3 5706 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
Orla Fallon sparkled as one of the original<br />
members of Celtic music touring quintet<br />
Celtic Woman. Her soft, porcelain soprano<br />
voice, flecked with Irish lilt, has a gentle<br />
beauty that pairs wonderfully with emotional<br />
melodies. With her first holiday<br />
recording, Fallon shows that her talents<br />
are equally ideal in a Christmas music setting,<br />
as she sings touching renditions of<br />
classics like “O Come O Come Emmanuel,”<br />
“Silent Night” and “In the Bleak Midwinter.” The line-up also includes a few traditional<br />
Irish pieces (“Carolan’s Welcome,” “Suantrai,” the title track), making this a great<br />
addition to any Celtic Christmas musical line-up. Besides her singing, Fallon’s album<br />
also includes lush harp strumming, violin, rhythm and keyboards, with an emphasis on<br />
light instrumentation.<br />
IVERS, EILEEN<br />
An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas<br />
CPR3 4467 CD $10.48/$17.98<br />
If you like a little festive fiddling to<br />
brighten your holiday experience, look<br />
no further than the master herself —<br />
Eileen Ivers, known for her work with<br />
Cherish the Ladies and Riverdance. Ivers’<br />
first holiday album — AN NOLLAIG:<br />
AN IRISH CHRISTMAS is rooted firmly<br />
in Irish traditional instrumentation, conjuring<br />
ideas of a celebratory yuletide in<br />
Galway; complete with a group of friends<br />
eager to join in the fun. Among those friends are Tommy McDonnell, who lends his<br />
vocal duties to much of the album and special guest Susan McKeown whose haunting<br />
voice graces “One Night in Bethlehem/Don Oiche Ud I Mbeithill.” The highlight is<br />
hearing Ivers perform traditional Christmas fare, like “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and<br />
“Do You Hear What I Hear,” with her fiddle, giving these songs a sublime Irish character.<br />
MCKENNITT, LOREENA<br />
Midwinter Night’s Dream, A<br />
VEQ3 8544 CD $14.48/22.98<br />
McKennitt’s A WINTER’S GARDEN<br />
was her first release to feature traditional<br />
holiday music. The EP’s five songs left<br />
fans begging for more. A MIDWINTER<br />
NIGHT’S DREAM is the answer to<br />
that plea, featuring the original five<br />
songs of A WINTER’S GARDEN alongside<br />
eight brand new recordings or<br />
similar themed material. Included is a<br />
stirring rendition of “O Come O Come<br />
Emmanuel” that sets McKennitt’s expressive singing against a spare backdrop of cello,<br />
as well as a version of “The Holly & the Ivy” that pairs the familiar lyrics with a unique<br />
melody. Among the other highlights are “Noel Nouvelet,” “In the Bleak Midwinter,”<br />
“Coventry Carol” and others.<br />
MCKENNITT, LOREENA<br />
To Drive the Cold Winter Away<br />
VEQ3 795602 CD $14.48/22.98<br />
TO DRIVE THE COLD WINTER AWAY by<br />
Loreena McKennitt is rich with the reverberating<br />
sounds and ambience of the great<br />
halls and churches in which the sparse selections,<br />
which reflect the simplicity of winter,<br />
were recorded. A hall in the woods of County<br />
Monaghen, Ireland, the church of the Glen<br />
Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in Ireland<br />
and the Church of Our Lady in Guelph,<br />
Ontario, Canada provide the simple pieces<br />
with a kind of depth and honesty that cannot be produced in a studio. Faint, barely<br />
perceptible sounds of life going on around the halls and churches during the recording<br />
session make the experience all the more intimate.
Ce lt i C<br />
MCLAUGHLIN, MARY<br />
Gaelic Christmas, A<br />
GMZ3 404 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
A GAELIC CHRISTMAS is a festive celebration<br />
of Irish culture and holiday tradition,<br />
featuring the sweet, pure voice of Mary<br />
McLaughlin at its core. McLaughlin, who<br />
hails from Northern Ireland, has a firm grasp<br />
of classic Irish sean-nos singing, which she<br />
displays here (with accompanying instrumentation<br />
— an uncommon element in<br />
conventional sean-nos form) in this graceful<br />
collection of Christmas and seasonal fare.<br />
With the exception of a handful of familiar favorites (“Silent Night,” “O Holy Night,”<br />
“Away In a Manger”), most of the songs are derived from traditional Gaelic spiritual<br />
music and capture the graceful beauty Irish music is known for. Instrumentation includes<br />
harp, dulcimer, oboe, pipes, cello and mandolin.<br />
NARADA ARTISTS<br />
Best of Celtic Christmas (2 CD)<br />
NAR3 72438 CD $8.96/14.96<br />
Celebrate Christmas this year Irish-style, with<br />
a nice big mug of ale and some of that good<br />
old-fashioned holiday cheer Irishmen (and<br />
women) are known for, with Narada’s BEST<br />
OF CELTIC CHRISTMAS. This two-disc<br />
collection features festive jigs and nostalgic<br />
airs from some fantastic artists, including:<br />
“The Snowy Path” from Altan, “Ceol<br />
NaNolog” from John Whelan, “Christ Child’s<br />
Lullaby” from Kathy Mattea as well as music<br />
from Bonnie Rideout, Cathie Ryan, Anonymous 4, Natalie MacMaster and more. Disc two<br />
features the full release of THE NIGHT BEFORE... A CELTIC CHRISTMAS from Dordan.<br />
NI RIAIN, NOIRIN<br />
Celtic Joy –<br />
A Celebration of Christmas<br />
STQ3 1292 CD $10.98/17.98<br />
Irish music teacher and scholar Noirin<br />
Ni Riain is gifted with a beautifully<br />
crisp soprano voice that lends itself<br />
beautifully to sacred music. CELTIC<br />
JOY features that voice prominently,<br />
with backing from her sons Eoin and<br />
Micheal O’Suilleabhain. The selections<br />
are mostly performed a cappella (the<br />
exception being organ on a few tracks),<br />
using the acoustics of Glencairn Abbey in County to amplify their voices and give them<br />
a heavenly glow. Ni Riain’s song selection is comprised of traditional liturgical music,<br />
similar to the output of Anonymous 4, along with renditions of “Coventry Carol,” “Ave<br />
Maria” and the stirring Mozart choral piece “Ave Verum Corpus.” A truly beautiful<br />
album, CELTIC JOY will give you a sense of the loving spirit of the Christmas holiday.<br />
NORLAND WIND<br />
December Journey<br />
ALU3 3001 CD $6.48/10.98<br />
DECEMBER JOURNEY, from Celtic group<br />
Norland Wind, takes a unique approach to<br />
music of the holiday season. The music is a<br />
blend of wintry themed pieces and Christmas<br />
music from various British and Scandinavian<br />
traditions. Some familiar themes come into<br />
play, like “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”<br />
and “The First Noel,” but most of the selections<br />
are less mainstream pieces, like the<br />
Swedish carol “Shining Christmas” or the<br />
Manx carol “Stephen’s Day Session.” The instrumentation is very subtle, focusing on<br />
harp, guitar and mandolin, with some light whistle, synthesizers to provide a smooth<br />
touch and rhythmic elements. It’s a very acoustic album with a low-key feel that’s<br />
perfect for people burnt out on traditional radio-style holiday music.<br />
PUTUMAYO PRESENTS<br />
Celtic Christmas H<br />
PWM3 314 CD $7.98/14.98<br />
Beautiful Irish and Scottish voices, entrancing<br />
Celtic instrumentation and classic Christmas<br />
carols provide an uplifting soundtrack for the<br />
holiday season. This long awaited and much<br />
anticipated Putumayo World <strong>Music</strong> collection<br />
features Dougie MacLean, The Albion<br />
Christmas Band, Teresa Doyle, Lasairfhiorna<br />
Ni Chonaola and many more! Includes two<br />
original recordings.<br />
RIDEOUT, BONNIE /<br />
MAGGIE SANSONE /<br />
AL PETTEWAY<br />
Scottish Christmas, A<br />
MMU3 215 CD $8.98/14.98<br />
A SCOTTISH CHRISTMAS brings together<br />
the collective talents of fiddle champion<br />
Bonnie Rideout, award-winning hammered<br />
dulcimer player Maggie Sansone and awardwinning<br />
guitarist Al Petteway. This sprightly<br />
collection of Scottish carols, strathspeys, wassail<br />
tunes and reels offers a unique look at<br />
holiday fare - that from the highlands of Scotland.<br />
The music is acoustic, featuring a wealth of Celtic instrumentation and traditional<br />
melodies, as well as some medleys that bind together well known holiday tunes. Among<br />
the tracks are “O Come O Come Emmanuel/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “Here<br />
We Come A-Wassailing/Bottom of the Punch Bowl.”<br />
ROBERTSON, KIM<br />
Christmas Lullaby<br />
GMZ3 134 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
The beauty of the Celtic harp is expressed<br />
on this comforting series of instrumental<br />
holiday carols, hymns and traditional songs by<br />
renowned harpist Kim Robertson. Capturing<br />
the stillness of winter and the warmth of<br />
the holiday season, CHRISTMAS LULLABY<br />
focuses on melodies that are quiet, pastoral<br />
and sweet. A lot of the pieces have a Celtic<br />
flair (many of these are derived from<br />
English, Irish and Scottish traditions) and the<br />
repertoire is a mixture of well known standards (“The Holly and the Ivy,” “Away in a<br />
Manger”) and lesser known tunes. The album makes a great accompaniment for those<br />
times when you’re looking for seasonal fare that lies on the soothing side.<br />
SANSONE, MAGGIE /<br />
ENSEMBLE GALILEI<br />
Ancient Noels<br />
MMU3 108 CD $8.98/14.98<br />
ANCIENT NOELS showcases the hammered<br />
dulcimer virtuosity of Maggie Sansone and<br />
the medieval and Celtic magic of Ensemble<br />
Galilei. In addition to Sansone’s dulcet tones,<br />
the Ensemble contributes the lively sounds of<br />
recorders, viols, Renaissance frame drums,<br />
fiddle and Celtic harp. Spirited jigs join<br />
haunting plainchants, medieval hymns and<br />
dancing carols to bring the listener images<br />
of ancient civilizations, desert landscapes and stone monasteries where the spirit of<br />
Christmas prevails.<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011 15
16<br />
Ce lt i C<br />
VIVA LA MUSICA<br />
Celtic Celebration<br />
LIF3 160032 CD $2.48/4.98<br />
This album of enjoyable Christmas tunes features<br />
instrumentation with a pleasant Celtic<br />
twist. From sprightly jigs and dances, like<br />
“The Ash Plant / Paddy White / High Reel,”<br />
to more traditional fare like “O Come All Ye<br />
Faithful,” the music offers a nice blend of<br />
Irish traditional music and perennial carols.<br />
The instrumentation includes strings, fiddle,<br />
percussion and pennywhistle, lending the<br />
music an elegant, yet rustic charm that perfectly<br />
fits the concept of Christmas in the country. Additional highlights include a serene<br />
take on the Irish standard “The Parting Glass,” a joyful waltzing take on “Good King<br />
Wenceslas” and the always poignant “Auld Lang Syne,” played as an air on fiddle.<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
WINDHAM HILL ARTISTS<br />
Celtic Christmas III<br />
WHZ3 WH11233 CD $6.48/10.98<br />
The third installment in the highly acclaimed<br />
chart-topping series of Celtic holiday<br />
recordings from Windham Hill, CELTIC<br />
CHRISTMAS III is a collection of artists and<br />
music that continues to kindle the Celtic<br />
spirit. Highlights include “Angels in the<br />
Snow” by David Arkenstone, “Circle of Joy”<br />
and “Home” by Lisa Lynne, “Lully Lullay”<br />
by Nightnoise and “A Raven in the Snow” by<br />
Brian Dunning and Jeff Johnson.<br />
MMU3 1143<br />
2002<br />
Christmas Dreams<br />
GPM3 851 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
Known for the ethereal, symphonic compositions<br />
that weave vocal textures with dense<br />
synth ambience and tender instrumentation,<br />
2002 has carved a niche in the new age<br />
genre with their consistent uplifting sound.<br />
CHRISTMAS DREAMS finds Randy &<br />
Pamela Copus taking their first foray into<br />
holiday music, and the results are stunning.<br />
The ten tracks featured are all instrumental,<br />
save for the group’s trademark Enya-like<br />
vocal sounds which softly float through each track. Reverberated strings glow with festive<br />
vibrancy, surrounded by twinkly keyboard sounds, enhanced piano melodies and<br />
the group’s trademark synthesizer sound. The tracks are comprised of familiar favorites.<br />
ARKENSTONE, DAVID<br />
Visions of Christmas<br />
GRE3 5753 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
Some of David Arkenstone’s most beloved<br />
songs have been his atmospheric renditions<br />
of Christmas music favorites, which capture<br />
everything that’s wonderful about the<br />
season — festive imagery, warm melodies<br />
and a sense of seasonal joy. VISIONS OF<br />
CHRISTMAS compiles some of Arkenstone’s<br />
best holiday recordings from his various<br />
albums. All of the music is instrumental. Well<br />
known melodies like “Joy to the World,”<br />
“I Saw Three Ships,” “Coventry Carol” and “The Holly and the Ivy” glow with Arkenstone’s<br />
trademark whimsical synth arrangements. Fans of Arkenstone and holiday<br />
music in general will find a lot to like with VISIONS OF CHRISTMAS — it will certainly<br />
be at home in your Christmas music rotation.<br />
MAGGIE’s MUSIC PRESENTS<br />
Drifting like the wind at early dawn sets the<br />
mood with Sansone’s new CD praised by the<br />
Washington Post as “elegant and soulful.”<br />
Celtic and new music in an innovative and<br />
evocative fusion of sound and textures featuring<br />
hammered dulcimer, guitar, cittern, mandolin,<br />
woodwinds, keyboards, accordion, bodhrán,<br />
djembe, cajón.<br />
MMU3 108<br />
in s t r u m e n ta l<br />
An INDIE finalist “Best Seasonal Album of the<br />
Year” featuring Maggie Sansone with members of<br />
Ensemble Galilei and special guest Bonnie Rideout.<br />
Hear ancient carols, Renaissance and medieval<br />
music bring to life images of desert landscapes, stone<br />
monasteries and the origins of Christmas performed<br />
on hammered dulcimer, Celtic harp, recorder,<br />
fiddle, bowed psaltery, viola da gamba and<br />
renaissance percussion.
in s t r u m e n ta l<br />
ARKENSTONE, DIANE /<br />
MISHA SEGAL<br />
Christmas Healing Volume 1<br />
EVM3 PVR114 CD $5.98/9.98<br />
Multi-instrumentalists Diane Arkenstone and<br />
Misha Segal team up to present listeners with<br />
a graceful album of holiday perennials to<br />
enjoy as the lights twinkle on the Christmas<br />
tree. Segal sets the tone for the album with<br />
her keyboard, piano and synth arrangements,<br />
which bear a light, dreamy touch.<br />
Arkenstone sings with fragile tenderness on<br />
several of the cuts, alongside flute and guitar.<br />
The whole production has an understated quality, making the music feel very relaxing<br />
— a nice counterpoint to the season’s more saccharine fare. Though keyboards are used,<br />
the general essence of the music is acoustic, with a tracklist that highlights traditional<br />
favorites like “Joy to the World” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”<br />
BLACK, JOHN<br />
O Tannenbaum<br />
NFR3 1003 CD $9.48 / $15.98<br />
Guitarist John Black offers a very low-key,<br />
acoustic-themed album of holiday music that<br />
acts as a perfect counterpoint to the typical<br />
overproduced radio fare that is ubiquitous<br />
during the month of December. The music<br />
features just Black and his guitar, as he<br />
lovingly strums some of the best spiritual<br />
songs of the Christmas season. It’s very<br />
tranquil and homey, making one envision<br />
roaring fires in the hearth and Christmas<br />
dinner with family. The songs are predominantly spiritual carols with European<br />
origins, including “Adeste Fideles,” “Good King Wenceslas,” “In the Bleak Midwinter”<br />
and the cheerful title track. Of note is a warm medley of “Away In a Manger,” “Angels<br />
We Have Heard On High” and “We Three Kings.”<br />
CLARKE FAMILY, THE<br />
Banjo Christmas<br />
LIF3 160051 CD $2.48/4.98<br />
Join The Clarke Family and special guest<br />
Billy Oskay for an old-fashioned Appalachian<br />
Christmas! BANJO CHRISTMAS features traditional<br />
Christmas songs played with banjo,<br />
fiddle, light percussion and guitar, providing<br />
music with an appealing bluegrass charm.<br />
The selections include evergreens like “Joy<br />
to the World” and “Jingle Bells,” as well as<br />
the bluesy folk sounds of “O Jerusalem in the<br />
Mornin’” and “Joseph and Mary” (both of<br />
which include vocals) for a nice variety of holiday tunes. Many of the songs have a lot of<br />
rhythm, with the smooth sounds of the banjo taking center stage.<br />
COLE, ALEXIS<br />
Greatest Gift, The –<br />
Songs of the Season<br />
MTM3 26 CD $8.98/14.98<br />
Jazzy rhythm, soul and a passion for<br />
music all percolate in the silky smooth<br />
corner jazz club mystique of Alexis<br />
Cole. Her core sound features elements<br />
of cool jazz mixed with a funky contemporary<br />
edge and the singer’s luscious<br />
vocals, which grab the listener with their<br />
clarity and robustness. THE GREATEST<br />
GIFT finds Cole turning her attention to<br />
holiday fare, wrapping up fourteen musical presents for the listener to savor. About<br />
half of the songs here are instrumental cuts, featuring Cole and her band jamming to<br />
popular holiday songs. The remaining half features Cole and others (St. James Quartet,<br />
St. Paul’s Children’s Choir) lending their voices in celebration of the season.<br />
DEUTER<br />
Celebration of Light<br />
NER3 2905 CD $9.98/16.98<br />
Deuter has built a career on making music<br />
that resides on the softer side of the musical<br />
spectrum. It only makes sense then that he<br />
would use his gifts to add a sense of beauty<br />
and light to a time of the year that has become<br />
synonymous with crowded shopping malls<br />
and endless to-do lists. CELEBRATION OF<br />
LIGHT features a selection of songs designated<br />
to bring peace and joy to the Christmas<br />
season and Winter Solstice. The music is<br />
entirely instrumental, featuring soft renditions of songs that Deuter personally finds<br />
moving, like “In Dulci Jublio,” “Greensleeves,” and “Winter” from Vivaldi’s “Four<br />
Seasons,” as well as a few original pieces. The music utilizes synth ambience, flutes,<br />
harp and enchanting keyboard effects to provide a festive, yet serene atmosphere.<br />
EVERSOUND ARTISTS<br />
Tidings of Joy<br />
EVM3 3509 CD $5.98/9.98<br />
Celebrate the holidays with this collection of<br />
Christmas songs that all bear a new age tinge.<br />
A collection of different sounds and styles<br />
from Eversound, the album features many<br />
of the label’s top artists providing their own<br />
approach to the holiday season. Included are<br />
John Mills, who takes a Celtic approach to<br />
“Away In A Manger,” Jonn Serrie’s ambientflavored<br />
rendition of “The Holly and the Ivy”<br />
and John Adorney melds breathy vocals with<br />
warm instrumentation on “Angels We Have Heard On High.” Most of the songs are<br />
instrumental, though Kim O’Leary, Geoff Bridgford and Manual Iman do add vocals to<br />
their cuts. The pace is mellow but upbeat, making for an album that is festive, while still<br />
maintaining a relaxed vibe.<br />
EVERSTAR<br />
Yuletide in the Shire<br />
SQR3 303 CD $6.48/9.98<br />
YULETIDE IN THE SHIRE... Many people<br />
familiar with the Lord of the Rings trilogy<br />
would jump at the chance to spend the<br />
holidays in the quaint village of the hobbitfolk<br />
of J.R.R. Tolkien’s lore. Everstar<br />
blends synthesizers, flutes, guitar and other<br />
instruments together to create a mystical<br />
album of Christmas tunes, including songs<br />
like “Coventry Carol” and “Bring a Torch<br />
Jeanette Isabella” as well as enchanting<br />
renditions of classics like “Greensleeves” and Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” The arrangements<br />
give the songs a light fantasy quality, bringing new meaning to the phrase “the<br />
magic of Christmas.”<br />
JORGE, RICO<br />
<strong>Holiday</strong> Panpipes<br />
LIF3 160031 CD $2.48/4.98<br />
The haunting sounds of the panpipes. The<br />
warmth of Christmas music. Put them<br />
together and you have a recipe for enchantment.<br />
This recording features the gentle<br />
panpipe playing of Rico Jorge, whose soft<br />
melodies provide a festive reverie of holiday<br />
cheer. The music features the panpipes in<br />
conjunction with piano, bass, light percussion,<br />
organ and keyboards. The songs are a<br />
mix of traditional favorites, included beloved<br />
carols like “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear,” “Away In<br />
A Manger” and many others that call to mind the tried and true sound of the holidays.<br />
The panpipes themselves have a shimmering quality that adds a special spark to these<br />
songs, making for a true holiday treat.<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011 17
in s t r u m e n ta l<br />
KITARO<br />
Peace On Earth<br />
DMR3 71014 CD $10.48/16.98<br />
If you want to truly draw out the magical,<br />
whimsical side of the holiday season, Kitaro’s<br />
PEACE ON EARTH is the album to choose.<br />
Utilizing his signature synthesizer sounds,<br />
with their soaring and swooping grandeur,<br />
along with panflutes, strings and dramatic<br />
percussion, Kitaro crafts fantasias on traditional<br />
carols that sparkle with imagination.<br />
His reverberated flutes dance through an<br />
ethereal take on “Angels We Have Heard On<br />
High,” while strings and a children’s chorus are combined on “The Little Drummer<br />
Boy.” The strings/keyboards/chorus approach is used beautifully on “The First Noel,”<br />
filling the piece with uplifting glee as strains of “Joy to the World” are intertwined.<br />
KOBIALKA, DANIEL<br />
In Heavenly Peace<br />
DKM3 311 CD $9.98/16.98<br />
Violinist Daniel Kobialka offers long-form<br />
interpretations of Bach and Beethoven’s most<br />
memorable melodies with IN HEAVENLY<br />
PEACE — an album that pairs healing and<br />
classical masterworks. Included here are<br />
four songs: Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” and<br />
the “Rondo” from his “Violin Concerto” and<br />
Bach’s “He Has Filled the Hungry” from<br />
“Christmas Vespers” and “Jesu Joy From<br />
Man’s Desiring.” In each, Kobialka offers<br />
gentle, ethereal renditions of the pieces. The music is slow and expanded so that each<br />
note lingers in the ear of the listener. Soft keyboard tones, flute, mandolin and ambience<br />
add a celestial sheen to Kobialka’s violin adding to the music’s ethereal glow.<br />
MA, YO-YO & FRIENDS<br />
Songs of Joy & Peace<br />
SNY3 4414 CD $10.98/18.98<br />
When Yo-Yo Ma made the decision to<br />
record his first holiday release, he did<br />
so with a caveat — he wanted an album<br />
that would take a universal approach to<br />
holiday music, featuring songs related<br />
to Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Eid al-Adha,<br />
Yule and New Year’s Day, in addition to<br />
Christmas. That’s exactly what he provides<br />
with SONGS OF JOY & PEACE.<br />
The album is a highly collaborative<br />
effort, bringing together artists including Alison Krauss, Diana Krall, Chris Botti, Dave<br />
Brubeck, James Taylor and many others to revel in holiday cheer. The music has a jazz<br />
leaning to it and is mostly instrumental, featuring songs that have an elegant, “holiday<br />
cocktail party” vibe. Yo-Yo Ma’s cello is woven into the backdrop on each song.<br />
MILLER, ROBIN<br />
And the Angels Sang<br />
RBM3 2060 CD $9.98/15.98<br />
Veteran new age musician Robin Miller<br />
offers this perfectly wrapped package of<br />
holiday goodness for you and your family<br />
to savor come Christmas time. AND THE<br />
ANGELS SANG takes a pensive approach<br />
to traditional holiday songs. The arrangements<br />
are spacious and airy, performed with<br />
a mix of keyboard melodies and synthesizer<br />
ambience. They also lie on the slower side<br />
of the spectrum, making this an ideal album<br />
for tender moments and unwinding after dealing with the typical seasonal hustle and<br />
bustle. Reverberated keys make the melody of “Silent Night” sparkle, while angelic<br />
cooing gives the backdrop a celestial effect. Besides holiday evergreens, he also presents<br />
five original compositions that fit well with the festive, yet quiet timbre of the album.<br />
18<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
NARADA ARTISTS<br />
Best of Narada Christmas (2 CD)<br />
NAR3 6141 CD $8.96/14.96<br />
Narada’s Christmas albums have always<br />
been the antidote for those burned out on<br />
flashy synthesizers and overdone holiday<br />
pop music. The music has a sense of intimacy<br />
and mood to it — this is the type of<br />
album that you can play at almost any point<br />
during the holiday season and feel like the<br />
atmosphere is enhanced for the better. This<br />
specially-priced, two-disc, “best of” release<br />
features selections from Narada’s past<br />
Christmas albums compiled on one compilation. With music by Tingstad & Rumbel,<br />
David Arkenstone, Michael Gettel, David Lanz, Michael Jones, Nando Lauria and more<br />
— a diverse selection. The music ranges from acoustic folk to lightly synthesized tunes<br />
from beginning to end.<br />
OLDFIELD, TERRY<br />
Silent Night, Peaceful Night<br />
NER3 3014 CD $9.98/16.98<br />
Terry Oldfield welcomes the Christmas<br />
season with a sublime collection of holiday<br />
tunes that adhere to the artist’s core musical<br />
elements — serene arrangements, soft instrumentation<br />
and, of course, his trademark flute<br />
playing. Each song features the gentle vocals<br />
from a mix of singers: Sally Oldfield, Soraya<br />
Saraswati and Ashley Mueckenberger, each<br />
of whom bringing a sense of ethereal grace to<br />
the proceedings. Terry himself lends vocals<br />
to several of the tracks, using overdubbing to give his voice a Gregorian chant edge.<br />
The songs are all slow-paced with reverberated flutes, keyboards, piano and synthesizer<br />
atmosphere, all melding into dreamy serenades of joy and peace. Included are renditions<br />
of “Silent Night,” “In the Bleak Midwinter,” “Once in David’s Royal City” and more.<br />
PETTEWAY, AL / AMY WHITE<br />
Winter Tidings<br />
MMU3 234 CD $8.98/14.98<br />
Grammy Award winning guitarist Al<br />
Petteway and vocalist/multi-instrumentalist<br />
Amy White paint a vivid portrait of the holidays<br />
in the Appalachian Mountain region<br />
with this gorgeous album of traditional and<br />
Celtic-inspired holiday music. Petteway’s<br />
guitar has a home-style sense of warmth to<br />
it that matches perfectly with the spirit of<br />
the season; it’s akin to cuddling with a loved<br />
one in front of a roaring fire, while snow falls<br />
outside. The album features quite a variety of instrumentation from both White and<br />
Petteway, including Celtic harp, mandolin, Irish bouzouki, mountain dulcimer, Irish<br />
whistle, piano and the banjo. On top of it, White’s comforting voice graces several of the<br />
tracks, performed in a soft, understated manner that adds to the album’s appeal.<br />
PHILLIPS, BARRY & FRIENDS<br />
Colonial Christmas<br />
GMZ3 139 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
Gourd music mainstay Barry Phillips<br />
presents a stunning collection of holiday<br />
gems that falls in line with the label’s penchant<br />
for music with roots and a traditional<br />
American quality. The cellist offers a selection<br />
of choral pieces, folk tunes, merry<br />
jigs from Playford’s “The English Dancing<br />
Master” and classic carols that capture the<br />
warmth and uplifting joy of the season.<br />
Phillips is joined by an impressive ensemble<br />
of backing artists including Shelley Phillips (English horn), Olon Johanson (nykelharpa),<br />
Sarah Jane Summers (fiddle), Jesse Autumn (harp) and others, who help to add to the<br />
festive mystique the album provides.
in s t r u m e n ta l<br />
SERRIE, JONN<br />
Christmas Prayers<br />
VLT3 15229 CD $10.48/16.98<br />
Jonn Serrie has spent much of his career<br />
looking to the heavens for sonic inspiration,<br />
making music that reflects the vastness<br />
of the universe and the beauty of the<br />
stars. CHRISTMAS PRAYERS is heavenly<br />
in a more spiritual sense, presenting a series<br />
of twelve pieces themed after the holiday<br />
season. Using songs like “It Came Upon A<br />
Midnight Clear” and “What Child Is This?”<br />
as a springboard, Serrie immerses the listener<br />
in flowing, ethereal musical arrangements that center on fluffy synth arrangements,<br />
twinkly keyboard tones and luminous melodies. It’s like experiencing the holidays from<br />
a remote, cosmic sense, with compositions both intimate and timeless. Other highlights<br />
include renditions of “Silent Night,” “Away in a Manger,” as well as a four song medley.<br />
STAGG, HILARY<br />
Winter Magic<br />
RMZ3 4556 CD $9.98/15.98<br />
Open your heart to the joy of WINTER<br />
MAGIC. Embellishing the enchanting<br />
sounds of his electric harp with strings and<br />
keyboards, Hilary Stagg captures the true<br />
essence of Christmas through these wellloved<br />
carols. Listen to favorites such as<br />
“O Come Let Us Adore Him,” “The First<br />
Noel,” “What Child is This,” “We Three<br />
Kings” and more. Displaying a true wonder<br />
for Christmas, this album is sure to brighten<br />
anyone’s spirits.<br />
TINGSTAD, ERIC /<br />
NANCY RUMBEL<br />
Comfort and Joy<br />
CTZ3 104 CD $8.98/14.98<br />
Tingstad & Rumbel’s previous two<br />
Christmas titles — THE GIFT and STAR<br />
OF WONDER (released in 1985 and 1995<br />
respectively), are regarded as holiday<br />
classics. And with good reason; Eric<br />
Tingstad’s acoustic fingerstyle guitar and<br />
Nancy Rumbel’s signature oboe, flute<br />
and ocarina playing fit superbly in a<br />
holiday music context, perfectly bringing<br />
out the softer side of the season. The pair return with this third album of Christmas<br />
music, COMFORT AND JOY, which dovetails wonderfully with the tone and feel of their<br />
previous albums. This time around, Tingstad & Rumbel perform a blend of both classic<br />
holiday favorites like “Angels We Have Heard On High” and “In Dulci Jublio” and rarer<br />
pieces, such as “O Little One” and “March of the Three Kings.”<br />
WINDHAM HILL ARTISTS<br />
Winter’s Songs –<br />
A Windham Hill Christmas<br />
SNY3 WH77687 CD $8.98/14.98<br />
For over two decades, Windham Hill seasonal<br />
recordings have been a mainstay in<br />
festively decorated living rooms around the<br />
country. It’s easy to understand why — their<br />
gentle, acoustic-leaning music selections<br />
highlight everything that’s joyous about the<br />
season, eschewing radio kitsch for homespun<br />
elegance. WINTER’S SONGS compiles<br />
ten selections from across their catalog of<br />
holiday releases, offering a mixed bag of original songs, traditional Christmas melodies<br />
and winter songs. Artists include Jim Brickman, Alex de Grassi, Aine Minogue, Philip<br />
Aaberg and other longtime Windham Hill fixtures. Tap your toes to Lisa Lynne’s Celticthemed<br />
harp playing on “Circle of Joy” or imagine an Old English holiday celebration<br />
with Barbara Higbie’s rendition of “Patapan” — the magic is palpable.<br />
CH a n n u k a H<br />
OT AZOJ KLEZMERBAND<br />
Channukah – Festival of Lights<br />
ORM3 58652 CD $7.48/12.98<br />
Festivity and spirituality intermingle in the<br />
klezmer music of Ot Azoj Klezmerband.<br />
This album of music for Channukah traditions<br />
offers a hefty helping of traditional<br />
Yiddish music from Eastern Europe, featuring<br />
sprightly brass and recorders, racing<br />
rhythms and fiery strings. It’s passionate<br />
music with a classic vibe, designed to add<br />
a celebratory air to your next Channukah<br />
gathering. The songs include “Channukah<br />
Oy Channukah,” “Der Naivelt Channukah Lid,” “Shalom Alechem” and seventeen other<br />
festival favorites, mostly residing on the uptempo side of the music spectrum. The songs<br />
are a mix of instrumental songs and those that include the vocals of Allan Merovitz.<br />
PUTUMAYO PRESENTS<br />
Jewish Odyssey, A<br />
PWM3 182 CD $7.98/14.98<br />
A JEWISH ODYSSEY is an exploration<br />
of the diversity and richness of Jewish<br />
music. Showcasing artists from major<br />
diaspora centers all over the world,<br />
Putumayo has brought together an<br />
assortment of amazing talent. Selections<br />
from late Israeli superstar Ofra Haza<br />
as well as The Klezmer Conservatory<br />
Band, KlezRoym, the Burning Bush<br />
and more create an exquisite tapestry of<br />
Jewish culture. Each has a distinct style which ranges from the Gypsy flavors of Central<br />
Europe to the contemporary klezmer sounds of America. A JEWISH ODYSSEY is a<br />
perfect gift for the holidays and beyond.<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS<br />
Celebrate Hanukkah<br />
KOC3 10016 CD $8.98/14.98<br />
CELEBRATE HANUKKAH takes a contemporary<br />
approach to the ‘Festival of Light’<br />
featuring acoustic folk music from artists<br />
steeped in the Sephardic repertoire. Including<br />
songs that incorporate jazz, reggae, blues and<br />
modern guitar pop, the music manages to<br />
keep its sacred heart while exposing the rich<br />
talents of artists like Laurence Juber, Flory<br />
Jagoda and Jon Simon. Prominent on the<br />
album are well known pieces like the perennial<br />
favorite “Maoz Tzur (Rock of Ages) “ and the popular children’s tune “I Have<br />
a Little Dreidle,” alongside original tunes that show the passion and creativity of the<br />
artists. Most of the songs feature vocals, with upbeat, joyous arrangements that capture<br />
the spirit of the festival.<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011 19
20<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
in t e r n a t i o n a l<br />
LEWIS, BRENT<br />
Jungle Bells<br />
BLP3 9 CD $9.98/15.98<br />
Here’s an album that doesn’t skimp in the<br />
originality department! JUNGLE BELLS,<br />
from master percussionist Brent Lewis, features<br />
eight Christmas carols performed using<br />
the Ikauma drums, a set of tuned drums<br />
with subtle melodic properties. In fact, this<br />
is likely one of the first holiday albums to be<br />
entirely percussive. The drums give these<br />
pieces a Caribbean sort of vibe, making the<br />
carols sound part festive and part tropical.<br />
The amazing part is how well the melodies are preserved. For example, when Lewis<br />
performs “Winter Wonderland,” the melody is very recognizable despite being played<br />
on drums. Other songs on the album include “Deck the Halls” and (of course) “The<br />
Little Drummer Boy.”<br />
LIEBERT, OTTMAR<br />
Poets & Angels<br />
HOM3 77605 CD $10.48/17.98<br />
Ottmar Liebert, the shining star of nouveau<br />
flamenco, pairs his smooth rhythms with<br />
festive Christmas music on this album of<br />
perennial favorites performed gypsy style.<br />
Latin and Spanish flavors abound on this<br />
release, making songs like “1st Nowell” and<br />
“O Holy Nite” sound much more percussive<br />
and warm. Liebert, an artist who has developed<br />
his career around re-defining what<br />
is thought of as traditional, has achieved<br />
something marvelous here, an album that is at once seasonal and spicy. Included are<br />
five original pieces from Liebert as well as favorites like “Deck the Halls,” “Away in<br />
a Manger” and more.<br />
PUTUMAYO PRESENTS<br />
Christmas Around the World<br />
PWM3 218 CD $7.98/14.98<br />
CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD,<br />
from Putumayo, offers a festive repertoire of<br />
American Christmas standards as performed<br />
by artists all over the globe. On this album<br />
you’ll hear “White Christmas” as interpreted<br />
by the French Gypsy-flamenco group Los<br />
Reyes, a spicy bayou take on “We Three<br />
Kings” from Michael Doucet, a brassy soninspired<br />
version of “Deck the Halls” from<br />
Cuba L.A. and a tropical rendition of “Silent<br />
Night” from Martinique-based Kali. This compilation is a nice balance of unorthodox<br />
and familiar for those who like holiday favorites with an ethnic flair.<br />
PUTUMAYO PRESENTS<br />
New Orleans Christmas<br />
PWM3 256 CD $7.98/14.98<br />
Celebrate Christmas Cajun-style with<br />
this collection of brassy gems from<br />
Putumayo! NEW ORLEANS CHRISTMAS<br />
shows why the colorful city has long been<br />
known as an artistic mecca, showcasing<br />
music that combines soul, festive energy<br />
and the influences of a population at a<br />
cultural crossroads; and that burning<br />
spirit is something even a hurricane<br />
cannot extinguish. This collection features<br />
a mix of traditional holiday tunes with Big Easy flavor, as well as some homegrown<br />
favorites that were originally made popular by the incomparable Louis Armstrong<br />
(“’Zat You, Santa Claus?,” “Christmas in New Orleans”). Artists include the Dukes of<br />
Dixieland, New Birth Brass Band, James Andrews, Papa Don Vappie’s New Orleans<br />
Jazz Band and more.
na t i v e / in f l u e n C e d<br />
BLUE FEATHER, DOUGLAS<br />
Kokopelli Christmas<br />
SHR3 6021 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
Cherokee flutist Douglas Blue Feather stands<br />
out from the pack due to his silky rich tone<br />
on the Native American flute, which he pairs<br />
with a reverence for tradition. KOKOPELLI<br />
CHRISTMAS is his first album of holiday<br />
themed music. Soft, slightly earthy renditions<br />
of popular carols and songs of the season, the<br />
pieces are all performed either solo or with<br />
very subtle accompaniment on Mother drum,<br />
rattles and bells (also played by Blue Feather).<br />
The album has a serene quality to it, and at times is downright haunting. “What Child<br />
Is This” and “O Holy Night” are good examples of this — the flute’s expressive nature,<br />
particularly when augmented by echo and reverberation techniques, becomes very clear<br />
and gives the effect of a lone flutist being moved by the spirit of Christmas.<br />
RED NATIVITY<br />
Heavenly Peace<br />
RSA3 10 CD $10.98/18.98<br />
Paul LaRoche (a.k.a. Brule) and Robby Bee<br />
team up once again to interpret the sounds<br />
of the season with HEAVENLY PEACE, their<br />
second release under the name Red Nativity.<br />
Like their debut album O HOLY NIGHT, it<br />
features improvisations on classic Christmas<br />
carols that infuse the original melodies with<br />
Native American influences (in particular,<br />
contemporary or “Brule style” influences)<br />
and low-tempo electronic beats. Synthesizer<br />
chords, flutes and chant round out the mix, giving songs like “Away in a Manger,” “The<br />
First Noel” and “Joy to the World” a fresh, earthy sound. Included are a few original<br />
compositions as well, which are equally festive and uplifting.<br />
RED NATIVITY<br />
One Holy Night<br />
RSA3 1 CD $10.98/18.98<br />
This powerful seasonal recording, which<br />
blends Native American flutes, synthesizers,<br />
percussion, bells, nature sounds and occasional<br />
soft vocals, was produced, engineered,<br />
composed, arranged and performed by<br />
Robby Bee and Paul La Roche (a.k.a. Brule).<br />
Together they form the duo Red Nativity.<br />
With just the right mix of Native American<br />
tradition and holiday festivity, ONE HOLY<br />
NIGHT captures the experience of a Native<br />
American Christmas celebration while at the same time paying homage to Wakan Tanka<br />
(the Creator). Highlights include songs such as “Come Faithful One,” “Three Shaman,”<br />
“Serenity’s Child,” “Silent Grace” and many more.<br />
NAKAI, R. CARLOS /<br />
WILLIAM EATON<br />
Winter Dreams for Christmas<br />
CAN3 7007 CD $9.98/15.98<br />
The combination of R. Carlos Nakai’s Native<br />
American flute playing and the string artistry<br />
of William Eaton (on guitar, lyre and<br />
harp guitar) makes WINTER DREAMS FOR<br />
CHRISTMAS one of the season’s more unique<br />
holiday releases. Featuring improvisational<br />
takes on traditional tunes like “What Child is<br />
This,” “Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming” and<br />
“Coventry Carol,” Nakai and Eaton pair the<br />
spirit of the Southwest with the joy of Christmas. A special treat is a haunting rendition<br />
of “Silent Night” which features accompaniment from a Navajo chorus.<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS<br />
Prayer For Peace<br />
SWR3 926 CD $9.98/16.98<br />
World peace is an idea that all cultures<br />
have dreamed of for centuries. Silver Wave<br />
Records reminds us of that dream from the<br />
perspective of the Native American community<br />
with the spirited album PRAYER FOR<br />
PEACE. The quiet reflectiveness of selections<br />
from R. Carlos Nakai and Peter Kater, Joanne<br />
Shenandoah and many others, paint a portrait<br />
of a world in harmony, free from conflict.<br />
Many of the tracks are deeply introspective<br />
and contemplative, featuring an assortment of acoustic and wind instrumentation<br />
that adds feeling and mood. A donation will be made to benefit “The World Peace Prayer<br />
Society” with each album sold.<br />
Kokopelli Christmas<br />
SHR1208<br />
Christmas favorites on the<br />
Native American flute<br />
For lovers of the Native American flute,<br />
Douglas Blue Feather's Kokopelli Christmas<br />
is a definite buy this holiday season.<br />
Richard Banks - christmasreviews.com<br />
Newest Release<br />
Earth Songs<br />
SHR2011<br />
Meditative and relaxing<br />
melodies featuring the<br />
Native American flute and<br />
acoustic guitar<br />
Contact your sales rep for these and other titles available from<br />
Douglas Blue Feather and for in store demos.<br />
Order from <strong>Music</strong> Design at 800-862-7232<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011 21
Pi a n o<br />
BRICKMAN, JIM<br />
Hymns & Carols of Christmas, The<br />
GRE3 5652 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
The sensitive piano playing of Jim Brickman<br />
has captured the hearts of listeners for over<br />
15 years. THE HYMNS & CAROLS OF<br />
CHRISTMAS, features his unique approach<br />
to classic Christmas and spiritual songs. The<br />
artist’s trademark approach to the instrument,<br />
which melds a flair for stylistic originality<br />
with sentimentality and a touch of<br />
romantic whimsy, is perfectly suited for the<br />
quiet serenity of holiday pieces like “The<br />
Holly and the Ivy,” “Away In A Manger,” and “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear.” He<br />
give the songs a sweet, ‘comfort of home’ feel that would be right at home on Christmas<br />
Eve. Solo piano, with guests Mark Masri and David Klinkenberg on a couple tracks.<br />
HALL, STEVE<br />
Rejoice...<br />
A Christmas Celebration<br />
BAN3 43 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
Sometimes smooth with a festive gloss,<br />
mostly tender and nostalgic, Steve Hall’s<br />
REJOICE makes a superb collection for<br />
creating a memorable mood around the<br />
holidays. The album features Hall’s gentle<br />
manner of piano playing at its heart, with<br />
accompaniment by rhythm, strings and keyboards<br />
on some of the cuts. Hall picked a<br />
selection of songs that leans toward the softer<br />
side of the Christmas music spectrum, and his tranquil playing is very well suited to<br />
these type of cuts. Arrangements are straightforward, with Hall pairing up some of<br />
the melodically similar pieces to create medleys. Of note is Hall’s very elegant<br />
rendition of “The First Noel” and an understated version of Handel’s “For Unto Us<br />
A Child is Born.”<br />
22<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
KATER, PETER<br />
Piano Christmas<br />
PLI3 2763 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
Veteran composer and multi-instrumentalist<br />
Peter Kater returns to the realm<br />
of holiday fare with this album of soft<br />
instrumental holiday tunes, performed<br />
on solo piano. Like Kater’s previous<br />
Christmas album XMAS ECSTASY,<br />
PIANO CHRISTMAS takes a unique<br />
approach to songs of the season, offering<br />
improvisations on well known tracks<br />
like “Coventry Carol” and “Oh Holy<br />
Night” that meld the familiar melodies with Kater’s own magical touch. The album<br />
also presents additional songs that are not regular Christmas songs per se, but classical<br />
and inspirational tunes that fit the mood of the season, like Satie’s “Gymnopedie No. 1,”<br />
Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” and the folk tune “Walking in the Air.”<br />
KATER, PETER<br />
Xmas Ecstasy<br />
SWR3 937 CD $9.98/16.98<br />
XMAS ECSTASY is an album of classic<br />
holiday favorites for listeners who enjoy<br />
something a little unorthodox, yet highly<br />
unique. Pianist Peter Kater, along with<br />
reed player Paul McCandless and Native<br />
American flute prodigy Evren Ozan, started<br />
by selecting classic Christmas tunes like<br />
“Coventry Carol” and “O Holy Night.” From<br />
there, he uses these tunes as a springboard<br />
for improvisation and an atmosphere of<br />
colorful world-based instrumentation. Each of the five tracks is elongated, featuring<br />
the main themes as well as musical tangents that include impressive solos from the<br />
individual artists.<br />
LANIER, STANTON<br />
December Peace<br />
NWM3 2108 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
Warmth and tenderness are key components<br />
in the piano music of Stanton Lanier. Both<br />
of those traits come through crystal clear<br />
on his first holiday offering, DECEMBER<br />
PEACE. The album features piano renditions<br />
of classic spiritual songs of the season performed<br />
in slow, haunting arrangements that<br />
accent the melodies of each song. In many<br />
ways, Lanier’s piano playing is reminiscent<br />
of George Winston, in that his arrangements<br />
are serene with a touch of improvisation that sets them apart from the crowd. The album<br />
features a very light layer of backing instrumentation from Jeff Oster (flugelhorn), Will<br />
Ackerman (drums), Eugene Friesen (cello), Jill Haley (English Horn) and Noah Wilding<br />
(vocals). Lanier’s piano is by far the dominant instrument however, with the other instrumentation<br />
being worked into the background so well that you almost don’t realize they<br />
are there. Includes several original compositions and renditions of “Coventry Carol,”<br />
“Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring” and others. DECEMBER PEACE was named “Best <strong>Holiday</strong><br />
Album” award by Zone <strong>Music</strong> Reporter.
Pi a n o<br />
PANDOLFI, EMILE<br />
In The <strong>Holiday</strong> Spirit!<br />
MMC3 204 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
Pandolfi proves once again that his grand,<br />
flourish-filled piano playing is an absolutely<br />
perfect match for festive holiday fare<br />
with IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT. The artist<br />
covers a variety of well-known favorites<br />
like “(There’s No Place Like) Home for the<br />
<strong>Holiday</strong>s,” “Coventry Carol,” “I Saw Three<br />
Ships” as well as a few lesser known cuts like<br />
“A Cradle in Bethlehem” and “What Are You<br />
Doing Next New Year’s Eve.” The result is<br />
a well rounded, stirring collection of classic<br />
seasonal favorites that are sure to ignite a<br />
bout of nostagia within almost any listener.<br />
PANDOLFI, EMILE<br />
Sleigh Ride<br />
MMC3 239 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
Pianist extraordinaire Emile Pandolfi takes<br />
listeners dashing through the snow with this<br />
holiday themed recording — SLEIGH RIDE.<br />
Once again, Pandolfi dazzles with his<br />
trademark piano style, which leans toward<br />
the romantic side with a playful sense of<br />
flourish. The collection is mostly made up<br />
of classic Christmas standards, like “Frosty<br />
the Snowman,” “Winter Wonderland” and<br />
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”<br />
while throwing a few vintage classics like “A Marshmallow World” and “Baby It’s Cold<br />
Outside” in for good measure. The arrangements are solo piano and are elegant enough<br />
to make it a perennial favorite.<br />
PANDOLFI, EMILE<br />
White Christmas<br />
MMC3 911 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
WHITE CHRISTMAS, from veteran pianist<br />
Emile Pandolfi, is a collection of timeless<br />
holiday classics that captures the spirit of<br />
an old fashioned Christmas. With his warm,<br />
flourish-filled playing style and attention to<br />
melody, Pandolfi is a pianist who is skilled<br />
at creating moods that are sophisticated and<br />
eloquent, with a touch of romance. His repertoire<br />
consists of well-known standards like<br />
“O Holy Night,” Let it Snow,” “Silent Night”<br />
and (of course) the title track. Pandolfi has<br />
impeccable technique and this lovely album<br />
shows him in all his festive glory.<br />
SWEETEN, ANN<br />
Christmas Presence<br />
ORB3 61890 CD $9.98/15.98<br />
Ann Sweeten captures the serenity of a perfect<br />
Christmas night. From the soft glow of<br />
the tree, with its twinkling lights dancing<br />
off rows of multicolored ornaments, to the<br />
gracefulness of snow falling outside, you’ll<br />
be immersed in welcome nostalgia as you<br />
listen to the gentle elegance of Sweeten’s<br />
piano. CHRISTMAS PRESENCE features fifteen<br />
perennial chestnuts. Included here are<br />
favorites like “Angels We Have Heard On<br />
High,” “Ave Maria,” and “The First Noel,” each performed with a soft touch and a tinge<br />
of improvisation. She savors each note and sets a mood that goes perfectly with the<br />
season’s relaxed, family-oriented side. Make CHRISTMAS PRESENCE part of your<br />
holiday memories and future traditions — it makes a wonderful soundtrack for<br />
the season.<br />
WINSTON, GEORGE<br />
December: Enhanced<br />
Anniversary Edition<br />
WHZ3 11611 CD $6.48/10.98<br />
DECEMBER, one of the greatest achievements<br />
of George Winston, was also one of<br />
Windham Hill’s first releases and a perennial<br />
favorite during the holiday season.<br />
This special re-release is part of Windham<br />
Hill’s 25th anniversary celebration and<br />
features deluxe digi-pak packaging,<br />
“Sleep Baby Mine” and “A Christmas<br />
Song” — two track additions totaling 15<br />
minutes of new music and a bonus enhanced CD-ROM track of sheet music for his<br />
rendition of Pachelbel’s “Canon.” Winston’s playing style is a perfect fit for the winter<br />
season whether it be holiday carols (“Carol of the Bells,” “The Holly and the Ivy”),<br />
classical renditions (“Joy,” the aforementioned Pachelbel track) or memorable original<br />
compositions.<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011 23
24 IN REVIEW | September / October 2011
Ja z z<br />
ADAIR, BEEGIE<br />
Winter Romance<br />
GRE3 5611 CD $9.48/15.98<br />
Listening to WINTER ROMANCE, it’s hard<br />
not to imagine Christmas time in the city,<br />
enjoying a warm beverage while snow falls<br />
outside and cars pass by on a busy downtown<br />
street. The song selection is divided between<br />
tried and true fare and lesson common songs.<br />
Of the former, Beegie Adair provides classy<br />
renditions of songs like “It’s Beginning to<br />
Look A Lot Like Christmas,” which percolates<br />
with a Latin samba rhythm, and “Sleigh<br />
Ride” with its sprightly horns and magical keyboard filigree. The less common songs<br />
include the title track and “Merry Christmas Darling,” both played to perfection.<br />
ALLEN, GERI<br />
Child Is Born, A H<br />
MTM3 369 CD $9.98/15.98<br />
Geri Allen is getting in the Christmas<br />
spirit with her first album of holiday<br />
material! A CHILD IS BORN features<br />
fourteen festive tracks of seasonal<br />
splendor that focus on the instrumental<br />
music of Allen. From a jazzy improvisation<br />
on the classic “Angels We Have<br />
Heard On High” to a rousing “Amazing<br />
Grace” with some impeccable piano<br />
work, Allen offers an elegant, peppy<br />
album that will make your gift giving more stylish. Besides piano, Allen also performs<br />
on Farfisa organ, Rhodes piano and celeste, each of which give the music an enchanting<br />
quality. Following on the heels of a big Motema debut with FLYING TOWARD THE<br />
SOUND, A CHILD IS BORN is further proof that Geri Allen is poised to be the next big<br />
thing in jazz.<br />
BOTTI, CHRIS<br />
December<br />
SNY3 75381 CD $6.48/10.98<br />
The magic of Chris Botti lies in his ability to<br />
create music that walks a fine line between<br />
smooth and classic ensemble jazz, every<br />
now and then dipping into each. His first<br />
holiday offering, the bittersweet yet sublime<br />
DECEMBER, follows suit. Most of the music<br />
on the album is instrumental, featuring<br />
Botti’s seductive trumpet set against an elegant<br />
background of strings (both orchestral<br />
and guitar). A few of the songs stray into<br />
upbeat territory, like “Winter Wonderland” and a Latin-edged bossa nova rendition of<br />
“Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” but Botti is at his most enjoyable when the music is<br />
softer and subtly romantic. Includes a strong line-up of backing musicians, like Peter<br />
Erskine, Shayne Fontayne, Billy Childs and R&B singer Eric Benet.<br />
KRALL, DIANA<br />
Christmas Songs<br />
VEQ3 471702 CD $14.48/22.98<br />
“It had to swing” says Diana Krall in<br />
describing her first full-length holiday effort.<br />
And swing it does! Featuring a repertoire<br />
of holiday standards produced by Tommy<br />
LiPuma and performed in conjunction<br />
with the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra,<br />
CHRISTMAS SONGS is a fun, festive album<br />
with a fair share of vintage big band charm.<br />
Krall’s smoky, corner jazz-club vocals give<br />
the songs, which include “The Christmas<br />
Song,” a playful rendition of “Jingle Bells” and haunting late night take on Vince<br />
Guaraldi’s “Christmas Time is Here,” a feel of urban sophistication that makes this a<br />
natural pick for your next Christmas party. Throw in the great backing instrumentation<br />
and you have an album of quality jazz from beginning to end.<br />
GUARALDI, VINCE<br />
Charlie Brown Christmas, A H<br />
CCD3 FANT8431 CD $9.98/15.98<br />
Vince Guaraldi’s soundtrack to the animated<br />
holiday program “A Charlie Brown’s<br />
Christmas” has become as much of a perennial<br />
favorite as the show itself. Certain to<br />
make you feel like a kid again, Guaraldi’s<br />
jazzy score is full of nostalgia and festive fun,<br />
pairing his peppy piano melodies with a<br />
sense of tenderness that fits perfectly with the<br />
feature’s theme of recalling the true mean-<br />
ing of Christmas. Includes timeless youthful<br />
favorites like “Christmastime is Here,”<br />
“Skating” and the “Linus and Lucy Theme.”<br />
O’CONNOR, MARK<br />
Appalachian Christmas, An H<br />
OMC3 16 CD $6.48/10.98<br />
A perfect musical delight for Christmastime!<br />
These beautiful, lilting Christmas<br />
melodies take you right to the heartland<br />
with Mark O’Connor and an all-star<br />
cast of music greats, like Alison Krauss,<br />
Yo-Yo Ma, James Taylor, Steve Wariner<br />
and others. Including holiday favorites<br />
like “O Christmas Tree” and “Carol of<br />
the Bells,” this release is destined to be a<br />
perennial favorite for years to come.<br />
GUARALDI, VINCE<br />
Charlie Brown’s <strong>Holiday</strong> Hits H<br />
CCD3 FANT9682 CD $9.98/15.98<br />
The holidays would not feel right without<br />
those loveable Charlie Brown animated<br />
features that pop up around Halloween,<br />
Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine’s<br />
Day. This album compiles highlights from<br />
each program, giving children of all ages<br />
a dose of nostalgic fun that any Charlie<br />
Brown fan will adore. Included here are<br />
“Surfin’ Snoopy,” “Great Pumpkin Waltz,”<br />
“Schroeder,” “Thanksgiving Theme,”<br />
“Christmas Time is Here” and many others,<br />
each featuring the cool jazz stylings of<br />
Vince Guaraldi and his band.<br />
PUTUMAYO PRESENTS<br />
Jazz & Blues Christmas, A<br />
PWM3 285 CD $7.98/14.98<br />
It will definitely not be a “Blue Christmas”<br />
if you pick up this album of holiday-themed<br />
hot blues and jazz music from Putumayo.<br />
The album offers a mix of titans from the<br />
two genres (B.B. King, Ray Charles, Charles<br />
Brown) and up and comers who will certainly<br />
benefit from the added exposure. In<br />
the blues department, offered are cuts from<br />
Riff Ruffin and Mighty Blue Kings, both<br />
of whom balance the genre’s characteristic<br />
grit with a sense of festive verve. The jazz offerings are a little more diverse, including<br />
Emilie-Claire Barlow’s playful take on “Santa Baby,” a taste of Christmas in the Bayou<br />
from the Dukes of Dixieland, some jazzy swing from Randy Greer and the Ignasi Terraza<br />
Trio and the always eloquent Ramsey Lewis Trio blending piano with a samba beat on<br />
“Here Comes Santa Claus.”<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011 25
Rough <strong>Guide</strong>s To A World of <strong>Music</strong><br />
Bellydance<br />
(2 CD) RGN3 1249<br />
Discover cutting-edge<br />
Arabic grooves, featuring<br />
Egyptian styles, traditional<br />
Turkish instrumental<br />
taksim, Lebanese shaabi<br />
and modern tribal fusion.<br />
Includes bonus DVD:<br />
Bellydance One-On-One:<br />
Essential Technique<br />
With Virginia.<br />
Paris Lounge<br />
(2 CD) RGN3 1250<br />
Embrace the ambience<br />
of Paris after dark<br />
with the cutting edge,<br />
sensual sounds of the<br />
city’s lounges and cafes.<br />
Includes a bonus CD<br />
from Marianne Dissard.<br />
Klezmer<br />
(2 CD) RGN3 1252<br />
With origins rooted<br />
in the rediscovery<br />
of ancient Yiddish<br />
music, KLEZMER offers<br />
a vibrant hybrid of<br />
traditional influences<br />
with gypsy, rock and<br />
hip-hop influences.<br />
Includes a bonus CD<br />
from Sukke.<br />
26 IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
African<br />
Guitar<br />
Legends<br />
(2 CD) RGN3 1259<br />
From Congolese rumba’s<br />
intricate guitar lines to<br />
Mali’s evocative blues,<br />
this compilation shows<br />
why guitar is king in<br />
Africa. Includes a bonus<br />
CD from Syran Mbenza &<br />
Ensemble Rumba Kongo.<br />
English Folk<br />
(2 CD) RGN3 1261<br />
A vibrant celebration<br />
of today’s burgeoning<br />
golden age of English<br />
folk music, with music by<br />
Eliza Carthy, bellowhead,<br />
Emily Portman and<br />
others. Includes a bonus<br />
CD from Coppe, Boyes &<br />
Simpson.<br />
Brazilian<br />
Café<br />
(2 CD) RGN3 1257<br />
Relax and unwind with<br />
the Brazilian café groove,<br />
a perfect soundtrack to<br />
a cafezinho shared with<br />
friends or a caipirinha<br />
on the beach. Includes<br />
a bonus CD from Vitor<br />
Ramel & Marcos Suzano.
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
27
28 IN REVIEW | September / October 2011
ANDREAS<br />
Magickal Nights<br />
PMC3 221 CD $9.48 / $15.98<br />
Listening to MAGICKAL NIGHTS, from multiinstrumentalist<br />
and new age composer Andreas, it<br />
becomes easy to visualize moonlit autumn nights,<br />
where crisp breezes mingle with the scent of burning<br />
wood and a tinge of patchouli. The album<br />
was created with magick and pagan themes in<br />
mind, allowing the listener to revel in the mystical<br />
beauty of nature. Synthesizers with a symphonic<br />
edge flow in the backdrop, as guitar, flute and<br />
piano commingle in the foreground. Twinkling<br />
keyboards and bells give the selections an enchanting quality that befits the music’s core<br />
themes, as on “Book of Shadows” or “Star Goddess.” The music features very light rhythm,<br />
but focuses more on ambience and melody. With is smooth, serene vibe, MAGICKAL NIGHTS<br />
provides a wonderful atmosphere for relaxation, background atmosphere and healing work.<br />
AUDITORY SCULPTURE<br />
Lagom<br />
ZON3 2 CD $9.48 / $15.98<br />
Auditory Sculpture is the brainchild of producer<br />
Keith Schreiner. As the name implies,<br />
Schreiner makes music that’s artistic, ambient<br />
and avant-garde - it’s free form and filled<br />
with moody atmospheres that alter between<br />
being sublime and mysterious. LAGOM,<br />
themed after the idea of finding equilibrium<br />
in life, embraces leaving life’s fast lane in<br />
favor of a laid-back existence. While listening,<br />
you find yourself lost in an electronic<br />
forest of blossoming tones and smooth, hypnotic ambience that draws you deeper within to<br />
discover its secrets. Beats are mellow and sporadic when they appear, disappearing and reappearing<br />
from amidst the cloudy layers of synthesizers. Drones, instrument samples and (in the<br />
case of “Down By the Riverside”) vocals occasionally enter the mix, giving the music a full,<br />
engaging sound. Great choice for fans of artists like Brian Eno and Steve Roach.<br />
DARSHAN AMBIENT<br />
Autumn’s Apple<br />
LSM3 2 CD $9.98 / $16.98<br />
A great ambient album extends past hearing — it<br />
is music you can feel. It wraps around you and<br />
transports your mind beyond the confines of reality<br />
to a place of thought-provoking, magically<br />
mysterious bliss. Darshan Ambient does exactly<br />
this with his album AUTUMN’S APPLE. Listeners<br />
are greeted with a soundscape that ebbs and<br />
flows with synthesizers that are relaxed, hazy and<br />
peaceful. A spattering of beats show up from time<br />
to time to give the music a faint bluesy groove,<br />
while delicate piano melodies meander through the mix. The mood is reflective yet uplifting,<br />
making one think of crisp fall days, watching as nature retreats for the season, yet reveling in<br />
the colorful show it leaves in its wake. Any fan of mellow ambient or relaxing atmosphere music<br />
will embrace the artistic work of Darshen Ambient on this album.<br />
DUNSTER, CHINMAYA<br />
Gaia’s Garden<br />
NER3 3113 CD $9.98 / $16.98<br />
GAIA’S GARDEN finds Chinmaya Dunster contemplating<br />
the beauty and majesty of the natural<br />
world, using music to conjure images of regal<br />
forests, manicured gardens and mountainous<br />
landscapes. Dunster’s music mixes Asian (in<br />
particular Indian) influences with warm new age<br />
melodies; the combination makes for smooth,<br />
flowing pieces of music with an uplifting quality.<br />
The interplay of violin, sarod and santoor gives<br />
the music an exotic feel, further buoyed up by<br />
the percolating tabla beats. Keyboards and drone instruments flesh out the backdrops, with<br />
cool guitars, piano and various types of flutes adding to the effect. Indian vocals provide the<br />
garnish on many of the tracks, adding to the languid mood. This is Chinmaya Dunster’s most<br />
relaxed album to date, and it will certainly please any listener who likes contemporary instrumental<br />
music with a subtle Indian tinge.<br />
New Age <strong>Music</strong><br />
HORN, PAUL<br />
Stillness Inside, The<br />
STQ3 2119 CD $10.98 / $17.98<br />
Paul Horn is a veteran new age musician and<br />
a two-time Grammy winner, best known for<br />
his classic album INSIDE THE TAJ MAHAL.<br />
In the years that followed its 1968 release,<br />
he traveled the world, using his flute to capture<br />
the timeless beauty of global landmarks.<br />
THE STILLNESS INSIDE is a culmination of<br />
his experiences as a musician, featuring<br />
twenty solo flute tracks that chronicle the<br />
artist’s best selections for the healing arts.<br />
Ranging from Bach flute sonatas to otherworldly ambient voyages, the music is tranquil and<br />
absorbing, encouraging you to turn your gaze inward. The music is well suited for meditation<br />
work, stress relief, the healing arts and spiritual contemplation.<br />
LLEWELLYN<br />
Ghosts<br />
PMC3 182 CD $9.48 / $15.98<br />
England is famous for its paranormal activity.<br />
Its historic buildings have seen many occupants<br />
come and go, sometimes leaving their mark<br />
in a spiritual way. Llewellyn contemplates the<br />
nation’s rich, supernatural history with the ethereal<br />
sounds of GHOSTS. The artist has created an<br />
album of soft melodies with bittersweet, pensive<br />
tones. Piano dances amongst haunting synthesizers,<br />
vocalist Juliana’s sweet vocal tones flutter in<br />
the backdrop and reverberated guitars lend an<br />
air of warmth to the music. The music is serene and beautiful, with a tinge of sadness that<br />
perfectly captures the sometimes sorrowful stories that give rise to ghost sightings. Even if you<br />
are not fascinated by the afterlife and its ties to this world, the music will still provide you with<br />
nearly an hour of gentle music for stress relief and relaxation.<br />
MILLER, ROBIN<br />
Awakening<br />
RBM3 415 CD $9.98 / $15.98<br />
Robin Miller has a reputation for making music<br />
filled with atmosphere and mood. AWAKENING<br />
adds another component to that list — groove.<br />
The album features Miller playing electric and<br />
nylon string guitars as the primary melodic element.<br />
Keyboards and piano further lend the music<br />
enchantment, while strong drums and bass keep<br />
things moving at an even pace. The melodies<br />
have style and theme. “The Awakening” focuses<br />
on a soft, tranquil sound that Robin Miller does<br />
well. Cascading synths and twinkling piano tones blend into a haunting backdrop. “A Gentle<br />
Touch” also follows this relaxed, dreamy path. On the other side of the spectrum, songs like<br />
the bookend tracks “Mellow Magic” and “In the Wind” prominently feature electric guitar and<br />
have a pronounced bluesy-jazzy sound that is both fresh and exciting. This mix of funky and<br />
tranquil makes for an enjoyable, diverse listening experience.<br />
RAPHAEL / SHAKYA<br />
Whispering Heart<br />
MLR3 3812 CD $9.98 / $15.98<br />
WHISPERING HEART is a confluence<br />
between harpist Raphael and the cello of<br />
Shakya. These two gifted musicians had a<br />
serendipitous meeting while at a spiritual<br />
center in Germany, prompting the pair to<br />
begin making music together. This album<br />
features the fruits of their creative experimentations,<br />
offering improvised ‘stream of<br />
consciousness’ performances that display<br />
the natural interplay between the two artists.<br />
The music is entirely focused on the mix of harp and cello with subtle accompaniment of<br />
keyboards and dilruba (the latter on one track). The performance has a meditative flair to it,<br />
focusing not just on the instruments, but the silent moments between the notes. In that way, the<br />
melodies are reminiscent of Japanese koto/shakuhachi music. Very peaceful and full of dreamy,<br />
uplifting tones and harmonies.<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011 29
30 IN REVIEW | September / October 2011
All-New and Bestselling<br />
DEVA PREMAL<br />
Password<br />
Created with Miten and Manose, Deva’s Password embeds the<br />
extraordinary energy carried by ancient mantras into a rich fusion of<br />
sound and silence. Password represents a shift in direction for Deva<br />
and Miten, with the introduction of Danish producer RajRishi,<br />
who brought the cream of Copenhagen’s jazz players into the mix.<br />
� e result is a substantial, musically re� ned album with sublime<br />
arrangements of ancient mantras, complementing Deva’s soulful<br />
vocals. � e album also features Manose, the ever-present bansuri<br />
maestro from Nepal. Password takes mantras beyond the ashrams<br />
of India and makes them accessible for anyone new to meditation<br />
or chanting, while o� ering a fresh sound for practiced individuals.<br />
Released by Sounds True in partnership with White Swan Records.<br />
MUSIC / CD / 1 HOUR, 5 MINUTES / STQ3 2498<br />
Selling Highlights<br />
• Deva Premal has sold over 1 million units worldwide<br />
• First full album of original material since 2005<br />
• US fall tour in 25 cities, � lling 600–1000 seat venues<br />
• Con� rmed publicity in national publications<br />
• � e soulful blend of Deva Premal’s enchanting voice with<br />
Europe’s best jazz musicians results in a musical delight for body,<br />
mind, and spirit<br />
from Sounds True<br />
Into Silence<br />
Deva Premal, international<br />
superstar of sacred<br />
chant, o� ers a soothing<br />
compilation of some of<br />
her most popular, divine,<br />
meditative chants and<br />
mantras to help you<br />
“awaken the longing in<br />
your heart amidst the blessed space of silence.”<br />
MUSIC / CD / 58 MINUTES / STQ3 1258<br />
Into Light<br />
An exclusive collection of<br />
illuminating chants and<br />
contemplative pieces for<br />
meditation and relaxation.<br />
With these eight luminous<br />
mantras and chants, Deva<br />
Premal invites you to relax<br />
into the sacred space of this<br />
compilation as it carries you inward to your divine light.<br />
MUSIC / CD / 57 MINUTES / STQ3 1481<br />
Also available from Sounds True,<br />
featuring Deva Premal:<br />
Eckhart Tolle’s<br />
<strong>Music</strong> to Quiet<br />
the Mind<br />
Compiled by Eckhart Tolle<br />
MUSIC / CD / 1 HOUR, 7 MINUTES<br />
STQ3 1313<br />
“Mantras are passwords that transform<br />
the mundane into the sacred.”<br />
—DEVA PREMAL<br />
TAD618<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
31
32<br />
new titles from<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
Kirtan Nation<br />
Various Artists<br />
The most celebrated artists of<br />
yoga chant come together to<br />
present a bliss-infused collection<br />
of devotional music.<br />
muSiC / 2 CDs / 2 hourS, 30 minuTeS<br />
STQ3 1901 / uS $19.98<br />
Songs of Tara<br />
Various Artists<br />
Top stars of devotional chant<br />
offer music dedicated to Tara,<br />
the beloved Tibetan goddess<br />
of liberation.<br />
muSiC / CD / 1 hour, 9 minuTeS<br />
STQ3 2120 / uS $17.98<br />
The Stillness Inside<br />
Paul Horn<br />
The renowned flutist and<br />
Grammy ® winner shares his<br />
favorite compositions for<br />
contemplative practice.<br />
muSiC / CD / 59 minuTeS<br />
STQ3 2119 / uS $17.98<br />
Harp <strong>Music</strong> for Healing<br />
Sarajane Williams<br />
A pioneer of music therapy<br />
presents an album of her<br />
most soothing compositions<br />
for releasing emotional and<br />
physical pain.<br />
muSiC / CD / 1 hour, 12 minuTeS<br />
STQ3 2128 / uS $17.98<br />
<strong>Guide</strong>d Meditations<br />
for Self-Healing<br />
Jack Kornfield<br />
Three guided meditations for<br />
easing physical suffering and<br />
activating your body’s natural<br />
healing capacity—from trusted<br />
meditation teacher Jack Kornfield.<br />
Spoken-worD AuDio / 2 CDs / 2 hourS<br />
STQ3 1770 / uS $19.95<br />
TAD610<br />
African<br />
PUTUMAYO PRESENTS<br />
African Beat<br />
PWM3 311 CD $7.98 / $14.98<br />
With AFRICAN BEAT, Putumayo offers a collection<br />
of high-energy, foot-stomping tunes from<br />
the Mother Continent that straddle the line<br />
between modern innovation and age-old tradition.<br />
As such, you will get the opportunity to<br />
move and groove to songs that pair club beats<br />
with bongos, string instruments like the kora with<br />
kickin’ keyboards and earthy, passionate vocals<br />
with so much soul it will give you goosebumps.<br />
Featured here are songs by the always impressive<br />
Malian trendsetters Vieux Farka Toure and Issa Bagayogo, Senegal’s Lek Sen, South African<br />
artist Busi Mhlongo and many others from Africa and beyond.<br />
Latin / South American<br />
PUTUMAYO PRESENTS<br />
Latin Beat<br />
PWM3 312 CD $7.98 / $14.98<br />
You’ll find it hard to sit still when the groovemasters<br />
at Putumayo have you in the throes of<br />
LATIN BEAT! This compilation shines a spotlight<br />
on the modern side of Latin music, where salsas<br />
and cumbias join with hip-hop and electronic<br />
beats to create a fascinating fusion of classic and<br />
cutting-edge. Mixed up by cutting edge DJs, listeners<br />
will get the opportunity to groove along<br />
with energetic music from Mexico’s Charanga<br />
Cakewalk, Columbian artist Mariposa Solar and<br />
Spain’s Digitano. And that’s just the start! There’s also plenty of rhythmic enjoyment from<br />
Cuba, the Congo, Ecuador, Columbia and beyond, all showcasing the unique and inventive<br />
concoctions that come from blending banda, flamenco, Afro-Peruvian music, son and other<br />
musical styles with contemporary vibes.<br />
International<br />
ROUGH GUIDE<br />
Sufi <strong>Music</strong> (2 CD)<br />
RGN3 1262 CD $8.96 / $14.96<br />
Passionate and ecstatic, spiritual and entrancing,<br />
Sufi music acts as a uniquely valuable<br />
bridge between East and West, reflecting the<br />
most accessible, liberal and pluralistic aspects<br />
of Islam. Curated by best-selling author William<br />
Dalrymple, this Rough <strong>Guide</strong> takes you on a<br />
journey from the traditional dervish and qawwali<br />
forms to explore the modern innovators inspired<br />
by the spirit of Sufism. Included on the album is<br />
music from Cheikh Lo, Gaudi with Nusrat Fateh<br />
Ali Khan, Cheb I Sabbah, Transglobal Underground and more, offering a unique cross-section<br />
of Sufi <strong>Music</strong> that includes music seeped in traditional sounds and modern innovators that<br />
blend age old styles with contemporary experimentation. The album is packaged with a bonus<br />
album that introduces the music of the Sufi Fakirs of Bengal.
Native / Influenced<br />
COYOTE OLDMAN /<br />
LANZ / STROUTSOS<br />
Time Travelers<br />
COZ3 1013 CD $9.48 / $15.98<br />
Over the years, Coyote Oldman has soothed the<br />
soul of people all over the world with his gorgeous<br />
flute-based albums RAINBIRD and ON MEDICINE<br />
RIVER. One thing that sets him apart from his contemporaries<br />
is the authenticity of the instruments<br />
he plays. Michael Graham Allen, the man behind<br />
Coyote Oldman, plays, researches and constructs<br />
flutes, melding ancient knowledge with modern<br />
innovation. THE TIME TRAVELERS finds the artist<br />
join by fellow flutist Gary Stroutsos and pianist/keyboardist David Lanz to take listeners on inner<br />
and outer journeys through the canyons of the Southwest and beyond. The music features deep,<br />
fluid ambience as a backdrop, upon which Coyote Oldman’s Anasazi and Mojave flutes wander<br />
and twirl. Stroutsos joins in with his Asian flutes, while Lanz’s synth work and piano melodies<br />
add a pleasant sense of melody to the mix. Beautiful to the core, the music will lift your spirits.<br />
NIALL<br />
Medicine Power<br />
PMC3 159 CD $9.48 / $15.98<br />
MEDICINE POWER is the culmination of Niall’s Native<br />
American-themed releases on Paradise <strong>Music</strong>,<br />
featuring specifically chosen tracks he feels best<br />
represent the healing nature of his music, which<br />
blends the essence of Native American traditional<br />
music with new age flavors. Reflective flutes<br />
provide melody alongside chant samples and up-<br />
lifting synthesized atmospheres. Skin drums give<br />
the music a tribal pulse alongside the natural majesty<br />
of nature, heard through rumbling thunder,<br />
wind guest and the sounds of birds and local indigenous wildlife. The overall feel of the music is<br />
soft and ethereal, making it a great accompaniment for healing practices or relaxation.<br />
Electronic / Dance<br />
ZERO ONE<br />
Remixed<br />
WAV3 11101 CD $9.98 / $16.98<br />
Zero One is the funky, futuristic musical project of<br />
producer Kevin Dooley. He specializes in soundscapes<br />
that take you on a rip-roaring sonic journey<br />
filled with bubbling ambience, otherworldly synth<br />
effects and chunky beats — it’s spacey techno<br />
with a cerebral quality you can lose yourself in.<br />
REMIXED features a handful of remixes from other<br />
innovators in the tech-ambient arena including<br />
Bluetech and Phutureprimitive. The mixes meld<br />
together well, creating an album that is consistent<br />
in tone, tempo and groove. The cuts give off a pleasant sci-fi/robotic quality, with melodies and<br />
ambient moods that make one think of virtual reality worlds and computerized adventures.<br />
Jazz / Contemporary<br />
JAMEAU, MARIA / BLUE BRAZIL<br />
Gema<br />
CHR3 73304 CD $9.98 / $16.98<br />
Maria Jameau is an award-winning, adventurous<br />
jazz musician with talents in singing, guitar, piano<br />
and flute. Her vocal talents are explored with style<br />
on GEMA, which also features the warm, organic<br />
instrumentation of her band Blue Brazil. The<br />
album was created with the goal of highlighting<br />
some of Jameau’s favorite songs from Brazilian,<br />
Spanish and African culture, with a particular<br />
emphasis on jazzy sambas and bossa novainspired<br />
tunes. Jameau’s smoky, laid-back vocals<br />
fit beautifully with songs like Caetano Veloso’s “Gema” and the Antonio Carlos Jobim’s perennial<br />
“The Girl from Ipanema.” A bed of sunny guitar strumming, courtesy of Pablo Rodriguez,<br />
lends the music a relaxed shuffle, while Bob Afifi’s flute dances in tandem with Jameau’s voice.<br />
Nate Lopez’s bass and Jacob Harris’ irresistible rhythms are icing on the cake. With one foot in<br />
jazz, another in Latin music, and with a touch of global flavor, it’s like a musical tropical getaway.<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011 33
34 IN REVIEW | September / October 2011
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
35
Sacred / Chant / Vocal<br />
PREMAL, DEVA<br />
Password<br />
STQ3 2498 CD $10.98 / $17.98<br />
With her beautiful, breathy vocals and reverence<br />
for ancient spiritual traditions, Deva<br />
Premal captivates listeners with her lush<br />
chanting, immersing them in a world of<br />
serenity. PASSWORD, inspired by the notion<br />
that mantras act as passwords to unlock the<br />
mysteries of the spirit, offers an album of<br />
fresh mantra chant that highlights Premal’s<br />
sublime singing capabilities. The album<br />
offers a new direction for the artist, featuring<br />
the insights of Danish producer RajRishi, who frames Premal’s vocals in the music of some<br />
of Copenhagen’s top jazz players. The music is not jazzy per se, but hints of jazz interweave<br />
with Manose’s bansuri flute and Asian drone instruments to provide a delightful cross-section<br />
of Euro-jazz, American lounge and classic Indian music. The selections are mellow and refined,<br />
bearing a special sort of elegance that only Premal can provide.<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS<br />
108 Sacred Oms<br />
VSP3 124 CD $10.98 / $16.98<br />
In the tradition of their celebrated spiritual albums<br />
ETERNAL OM and OM SANCTUARY, Valley of the<br />
Sun Publishing returns with a transcendent album<br />
of chant that revels in the timeless sound of the<br />
“om.” 108 SACRED OMS features om chanted<br />
108 times in succession, as wordless vocals, the<br />
sounds of the ocean surf, temple bells, bansuri<br />
flute drones and the occasional drum beat provide<br />
atmosphere. Deep and reverberating, the<br />
sound of the om is highly peaceful, opening the<br />
listener up to more intensive states of meditation and adding a special dimension to yoga<br />
practice. The program was created by J.D. McKean and features the vocal sounds of Nisha<br />
Narsai, along with the Buddhist monks chanting the om.<br />
36<br />
FEM3 111<br />
3 rd Eye Rising<br />
FEM3 105<br />
Middle Path<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
5 th Element <strong>Music</strong><br />
Paradiso and Rasamayi<br />
Indulge in blissful soundscapes<br />
for healing and meditation through the<br />
stirring music of Paradiso and Rasamayi.<br />
Blending didgeridoo with crystal and Tibetan<br />
singing bowls, mantra chant, keyboards<br />
and drums, this music offers a mystical<br />
atmosphere conducive to expanding<br />
consciousness and spiritual work.<br />
FEM3 100<br />
Shaman’s Trance<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS<br />
Kirtan Nation (2 CD)<br />
STQ3 1901 CD $11.96 / $19.96<br />
Many of today’s hottest kirtan artists are<br />
brought together on this album of cutting<br />
edge chant talent. Featuring two discs of<br />
material, KIRTAN NATION features the<br />
music of Deva Premal, Jai Uttal, Krishna<br />
Das, Dave Stringer, Wah! and many others.<br />
In other words, the best and the brightest<br />
in the chant music scene. <strong>Music</strong>-wise, most<br />
of the songs blend Western instrumentation<br />
and acoustic melodies with Eastern influences.<br />
Devotional Sanskrit lyrics add power and potency to the singing of each artist, be it<br />
Krishna Das’s deep resonance or David Newman’s warm croon. It’s music of the heart and for<br />
the heart, that’s perfect for giving your yoga practice a blissful boost or for simply reveling in<br />
spiritual love.<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS<br />
Songs of Tara<br />
STQ3 2120 CD $10.98 / $17.98<br />
Tara is known in Tibet as “She Who<br />
Liberates” — a compassionate bodhisattva<br />
who delivers us from fear and protects us<br />
from harm. With SONGS OF TARA, Deva<br />
Premal, Wah!, and many of the brightest<br />
stars of devotional chant raise their voices<br />
in celebration of this beloved “Mother of<br />
all Buddhas.” Inspired by the classical homage<br />
to the 21 emanations of Tara (the most<br />
widely-sung text in Tibet), this album is a<br />
meditative collection of mantras, chants, and praises to help listeners connect to the energy of<br />
this swift and heroic goddess. Includes modern and traditional devotions to Green Tara, who<br />
leaps to our aid when we are in need, and White Tara, who offers longevity so we may have<br />
more time to serve others in this world. Includes music from Deva Premal, Nawang Khechog,<br />
Wah!, Jamyang Sakya (the female head of the Buddhist Sakya lineage), Bhakta, and more.<br />
FEM3 107<br />
Himalayan Chakra Healing<br />
FEM3 505<br />
Healing Vibes
ALI KHAN, MASOOD<br />
Yoga Sessions: Hang With Angels<br />
WSM3 28 CD $8.98 / $14.98<br />
A clever play on words, Masood Ali Khan’s THE<br />
YOGA SESSIONS: HANG WITH ANGELS once<br />
again highlights the sound of the hang, this time<br />
interspersed with angelic female vocals. The hang<br />
is a unique percussion instrument. Resembling<br />
a pair of fused shields, the metallic instrument<br />
gives off a reverberated, clanking tone that is<br />
reminiscent of Balinese gamelan bells. Its tones<br />
are enchanting with a peaceful undercurrent —<br />
perfect for a practice like yoga that benefits from<br />
cultivating mindfulness. HANG WITH ANGELS also includes the serene vocals of a revolving<br />
door of artists, including Lisbeth Scott, Suzanne Sterling, Kayamani Devi, Radha and others.<br />
The delicate voices, mixed with the hang, horns, drone instruments and flute create an otherworldly<br />
tapestry of gentle, atmospheric sounds.<br />
ASHER, JAMES<br />
Return of the Tiger<br />
NER3 3104 CD $9.98 / $16.98<br />
Anyone familiar with the music of James Asher<br />
knows that he can drum up a storm. RETURN OF<br />
THE TIGER proves that he hasn’t lost his touch.<br />
Featured here are ten tracks that are jam-packed<br />
with percussive goodness. The groove safari<br />
begins with “Gatekeeping,” where Asher’s prime<br />
drumming is marbled with the epic resonance of<br />
Jason Salmon’s droning didgeridoo. Next up is<br />
“Salute to Cuba,” where the music takes a detour<br />
into the realm of Afro-Cuban rhythms, with voice<br />
and kalimba joining with driving drum beats. “Drum Dialogue” follows, showcasing the intoxicating,<br />
wonderfully tribal nature of Asher’s drums, when presented with minimal accompaniment.<br />
This is just a taste of what RETURN OF THE TIGER has in store, with its globe-hopping,<br />
foot-stomping odyssey of music, all fueled by the drumming of Asher.<br />
GLOBESONIC DJ ALSULTANY<br />
Yoga Lounge<br />
WSM3 121 CD $9.98 / $16.98<br />
Would you like to add some spice to your<br />
yoga routine? Globesonic DJ Alsultany has<br />
just the thing to invigorate your asanas.<br />
YOGA LOUNGE features a dozen tracks that<br />
have been sequenced to mirror the flow of a<br />
yoga session. The music pairs sensuality, spirituality<br />
and groove, offering a continuous flow<br />
of music for the heart and mind. The album<br />
kicks off with a remix of Deva Premal’s “Guru<br />
Rinpoche Mantra,” which starts the album on<br />
a graceful note. Karsh Kale, Jai Uttal, Fabian Alsultany and Laya Project are just a few of the<br />
artists who proceed to take you on a smooth, enlightening journey into the entrancing side of<br />
yoga music, blending drones, vocals and Indian instruments with laid-back beats and swirling<br />
synthesizers. The album provides a cool down at the end, perfect for Savasana. Featuring 79<br />
minutes of music, the album offers a lot of quality for the price of admission.<br />
World Beat<br />
GORDON, DAVID & STEVE<br />
Groove Tribe<br />
SQR3 503 CD $9.48 / $15.98<br />
David & Steve Gordon are back with another<br />
globe-trotting, foot-stomping musical odyssey<br />
that re-defines the word “groove.” GROOVE<br />
TRIBE is an intersection of the pair’s rhythmic<br />
drumming albums, like their best-selling SACRED<br />
EARTH DRUMS, and their electronic-themed<br />
“Buddha Lounge” compilations. In other words,<br />
it’s the best of both worlds, offering smooth triphop<br />
beats and loungey synth atmospheres paired<br />
with organic instrumentation of the Southwest<br />
and beyond, like pan flutes, Native flutes, shakers, piano and guitar. The music has a relaxed<br />
quality that makes it ideal for entertaining, creating a laid-back environment or giving a special<br />
spark to movement-based activities like yoga or trance dance.<br />
MUSIC MOSAIC COLLECTION<br />
Didgeridoo Trance Dance 3<br />
MUC3 1108 CD $10.48 / $16.98<br />
Being based in Australia, <strong>Music</strong> Mosaic has the<br />
inside track in what makes a strong, foot-stomping<br />
didgeridoo album. DIDGERIDOO TRANCE<br />
DANCE 3 is case in point. The album features<br />
just under 52 minutes of pulsating, gyrating<br />
didgeridoo pleasure, blending the instrument’s<br />
signature drone with the sounds of thumping<br />
drum beats, synthesizer ambience and trippy<br />
keyboard tones. The music is at once tropical<br />
and otherworldly, finding a comfortable midpoint<br />
between the earthy and electronic elements. The music also bears a clubby edge, which will<br />
keep your feet moving, whether you’re talking about the frenetic grooviness of Ash Dargan’s<br />
“Snake Bite” or the hyper-kinetic bassline of Hilight Tribe’s “Didgedelik.” This is a fun, upbeat<br />
album of clubby jams perfect for anyone who enjoys tribal fusion music, and in particular, the<br />
serpentine growl of the didg.<br />
MUSIC MOSAIC COLLECTION<br />
Groove Medicine<br />
MUC3 1010 CD $10.48 / $16.98<br />
Laid back grooves with an ethnic flair are the<br />
bread and butter of <strong>Music</strong> Mosaic’s compilations.<br />
Doing what they do best, GROOVE MEDICINE<br />
finds a nice balance between earthy tribal music<br />
and cocktail lounge ambiance, throwing a little<br />
Asian influence into the mix to make things a bit<br />
more exotic. The grooves all fall on the relaxed<br />
side of the spectrum. Beats range from electronic<br />
trip-hop to scampering tabla beats, each bathed<br />
in synthesizers, Indian drone instruments, strings,<br />
vocal samples and trippy keyboard effects. The mellow feel of the music makes it great as an<br />
atmosphere album, offering a nice blend of established artists (Karunesh, Gabrielle Roth) and<br />
lesser known but equally talented musicians (Lee Boice, Keiya, Tzarina). A great album for fans<br />
of music with thumping grooves and a plethora of multicultural influences.<br />
OM YOGA / VARIOUS ARTISTS<br />
Om Yoga: Modern <strong>Music</strong> for<br />
Vinyasa / Flow<br />
WEA3 OM500 CD $6.48 / $10.98<br />
OM YOGA : MODERN MUSIC FOR VINYASA<br />
/ FLOW is an album for the yogi who craves<br />
groove and energy when doing their Downward<br />
Facing Dog poses. You’re not going to find<br />
acoustic chant offerings here — this album was<br />
designed to light a fire under your Cobbler<br />
Pose through mixes and remixes from bands like<br />
Rocket Empire, J-Boogie’s Dubtronic Science,<br />
King Kooba, Soulstice and others. This music is<br />
particularly well suited for Vinyasa / Flow sessions, given that the constant state of movement<br />
associated with that form benefits greatly from the clubby East-meets-West vibes presented<br />
here. Whether you practice at home or in a studio, or even if you don’t do yoga at all but are<br />
seeking music to invigorate other forms of exercise, this compilation will make the experience<br />
more fun and rewarding.<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011 37
MICHAEL HARNER’S SHAMANIC JOURNEYWORK® SERIES<br />
RECORDINGS FOR THE SHAMANIC JOURNEY<br />
POWERFUL. EFFECTIVE. TIMELESS.<br />
Michael Harner pioneered the return of shamanism and the shamanic drum journey<br />
to the West. Each CD in the Shamanic Journeywork Series has been specifically<br />
designed for serious journey work as explained in his book The Way of the Shaman.<br />
MICHAEL HARNER’S SHAMANIC JOURNEY<br />
1<br />
SOLO AND DOUBLE DRUMMING<br />
38 IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
1 – SHAMANIC JOURNEY SOLO AND DOUBLE DRUMMING<br />
Michael Harner provides classic solo and double drumming for<br />
the shamanic journey. Digitally remastered 2010, for even better<br />
sound. (UPC/EAN: 762573200125)<br />
2 – SHAMANIC JOURNEY DIDJERIDU Australian aboriginal<br />
didjeridu with click sticks carries one into an extended<br />
Dreamtime journey. Masterfully played by Stephen McDonnell.<br />
(UPC/EAN: 762573200729)<br />
3 – SHAMANIC JOURNEY SINGING CHORUS Inspired by<br />
an ancient northern European method for long journeying.<br />
Drumming followed by gentle support of a women’s chorus.<br />
(UPC/EAN: 762573200323)<br />
4 – SHAMANIC JOURNEY MUSICAL BOW A single plucked string stretched tautly between the ends<br />
of a bowed stick, once utilized by many tribal shamans. Here the Brazilian berimbau is played by Susan<br />
Mokelke, alone and with a rattle, for a unique sound for journeying. (UPC/EAN: 796873005692)<br />
5 – NOW ON CD! SHAMANIC DOUBLE DRUMMING The use of two drums played facing each other<br />
creates more reverberations and overtones than a single drum. The slower measured beat of this<br />
recording is useful for many shamanic practices, such as calling in the spirits, and may also be used for<br />
journeying. Digitally remastered to CD 2010. (UPC/EAN: 884501412759)<br />
6 – SHAMANIC JOURNEY RATTLE The rattle, in various forms, is used by shamans in many parts of the<br />
world. Here, Michael Harner shakes a single rawhide rattle to provide a higher frequency sound than the<br />
drum, which requires less volume to be effective for journeying. (UPC/EAN: 762573200620)<br />
7 – SHAMANIC JOURNEY MULTIPLE DRUMMING Unified, intense, shamanic journey drumming by the<br />
Bridgewalker Drummers. A powerful, leading-edge sound, digitally remastered 2010.<br />
(UPC/EAN: 762573200224)<br />
THE FOUNDATION FOR SHAMANIC STUDIES<br />
a non-profit public 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
39
Self-Help Audio<br />
CHOPRA, DEEPAK / ADAM PLACK<br />
Secret of Love, The: Meditations<br />
for Attracting and Being<br />
PBE3 1002 CD $11.48 / $18.98<br />
Deepak Chopra feels that when you love yourself,<br />
you’re able to love others more fully. The inner<br />
peace derived from this allows you to open yourself<br />
more fully to the world. On this CD, Chopra<br />
offers an extended set of sutras (“great sayings”)<br />
that will help you to embrace the essence of love<br />
and help you realize that you’re infinitely loveable.<br />
Chopra separates the sutras into nine<br />
themes: love, attraction, infatuation, communion,<br />
intimacy, sexuality, surrender, passion and ecstasy, offering thought-provoking nuggets of<br />
time-honored wisdom on the different types and stages of love. The album also includes the<br />
poetry of Rumi, an affirmation sequence and a deep meditation that will help you see the world<br />
through the eyes of love. Adam Plack provides the soothing, string-based backdrop music.<br />
MICHAELS, MARK /<br />
PATRICIA JOHNSON<br />
Ananda Nidra: Blissful Sleep (2 CD)<br />
PJK3 261 CD $10.96 / $19.96<br />
”Ananda Nidra,” based on the fundamentals of<br />
Yoga Nidra, is a powerful practice utilizing visualization,<br />
tantric sexuality and meditation to wrap<br />
the listener is a blanket of serenity. This 2-CD set<br />
features a pair of guided sessions; the first is narrated<br />
by Mark A. Michaels (Swami Umeshanand<br />
Saraswati) and the second by Patricia Johnson<br />
(Devi Veenanand), both accomplished authors<br />
and Tantra teachers. The meditations presented<br />
here have a very sensual nature. In Michaels’ meditation, he guides you to a place of dreamy<br />
peace evoking imagery of vivid sights, sounds, tastes, etc. Relaxed by the sound of his supple<br />
voice, listeners find themselves awash in pleasant imagery, as the aural atmosphere slowly<br />
guides them deeper into a sleep state. Making these experiences all the more absorbing is the<br />
lush, otherworldly, ambient music of Black Tape for a Blue Girl and Steve Roach.<br />
40<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
PERMUTT, PHILIP<br />
Little Spirit <strong>Guide</strong><br />
Meditation Album, The<br />
PMC3 185 CD $9.48 / $15.98<br />
Join Phillip Permutt on a beautiful journey into<br />
the depths of the mind, where you will get the<br />
opportunity to interact with your spirit guides<br />
and heal yourself both inside and out. He begins<br />
this recording with a soothing relaxation session,<br />
where the listener is encouraged to free their mind<br />
and shed their cares. Next, Permutt uses guided<br />
imagery to immerse you in a scene — you traveling<br />
up a majestic mountain on a pilgrimage to meet<br />
your first spirit guide. He follows this with several subsequent meditations, taking you through<br />
a forest, a cave, a pyramid and a temple in the clouds. Llewellyn’s celestial melodies grace the<br />
backdrop of each track, providing a truly uplifting companion to your meditation practice.<br />
Sidelines<br />
VIRTUE, DOREEN, PH.D.<br />
Life Purpose Oracle Cards<br />
HAYA 2475 CD $9.48 / $15.95<br />
What is your life’s purpose? Are you on the right path,<br />
or is a new, more-rewarding direction about to open<br />
up to you? This deck of oracle cards from author and<br />
clairvoyant Doreen Virtue can help you to pave your<br />
path along the journey of life... or develop confidence<br />
in the path already forged. Featured are 44 beautifully<br />
illustrated cards that contain either a career path, a<br />
behavior choice or a mindset change that can alter<br />
your reality. The hand-painted imagery on the front of<br />
each card is glossy and uplifting, depicting the guidance<br />
of angels in various facets of your life. A 110-page<br />
guidebook accompanies the cards to offer suggestions<br />
on usage and spreads, as well as more detailed discussion<br />
of each card’s meaning.
CHIASSON, ANN MARIE, MD<br />
Energy Healing for Beginners<br />
STQ4 1738 DVD $11.98 / $19.95<br />
Ann Marie Chiasson,MD offers this fantastic resource for<br />
using your natural energy system to heal the body. These<br />
simple, effective techniques can help release tension,<br />
improve your healing ability and achieve greater balance.<br />
The first exercise is called “toe tapping.” Designed for<br />
grounding, it helps you achieve better circulation and<br />
open the energy field. “Body Tapping” involves a bouncing<br />
motion, while systematically using a tapping rhythm on<br />
various body regions to improve energy flow. “Shaking the<br />
Bones” allows you to rhythmically move about, releasing<br />
your pent up emotions in the process. Dr.Chiasson then<br />
walks the viewer through proper diaphragmatic breathing<br />
and onto a process called “Sacred Touch,” which involves sending healing, loving energy to<br />
body parts to heal and soothe. This program provides a great foundation in energy healing,<br />
allowing you to improve your health in an organic manner. Running time: 67 minutes.<br />
EXHALE MIND BODY SPA<br />
Core Fusion Cardio Pure Intensity<br />
AMQ4 8605 DVD $9.98 / $16.98<br />
Fred DeVito and Elizabeth Halfpapp are back with<br />
another fine workout that will put your muscles to the<br />
test. The great thing about the Exhale Core Fusion programs<br />
is that DeVito and Halfpapp have designed their<br />
workouts to integrate a variety of fitness disciplines in<br />
one place. Yoga, aerobic exercise, Pilates... they all come<br />
into play on CARDIO PURE INTENSITY. These moves hit<br />
all of the major muscle groups, be it a Downward Facing<br />
Dog that morphs into a bicycling motion aimed at the<br />
thighs or balancing moves that utilize hand weights to<br />
work arms and abs simultaneously. The moves vary from<br />
high energy cardio-centric modules to those focused on<br />
stretching and holding postures. DeVito and Halfpapp take turns doing the instruction, and<br />
modifications are provided to accommodate all fitness levels. Running time: 60 minutes.<br />
GAIAM<br />
Titans of Yoga<br />
GAI4 58499 DVD $7.48 / $12.98<br />
For the first time ever, TITANS OF YOGA unites twentyfive<br />
of the most prominent voices in the worlds of<br />
yoga, mindfulness and meditation in one enlightening<br />
documentary. Featuring such respected professionals<br />
as Dr. Dean Ornish, a physician consultant to President<br />
Clinton; Lilias Folas, the “First Lady of Yoga,” and many<br />
others, these voices speak with over 600 years of combined<br />
experience, sharing their deepest understanding<br />
of uniting the body and mind. Continuing a 5,000-year<br />
tradition, these internationally celebrated instructors and<br />
innovative leaders impart their wisdom, passing on the<br />
art and healthfulness of yoga to generations to come.<br />
Includes appearances by Seane Corn, Shiva Rea, Gurmukh Khalsa, Sharon Gannon, Sara<br />
Ivanhoe, Deva Premal & Miten and Swami Kriyananda. Running time: 69 minutes.<br />
DVD<br />
HOLDEN, LEE<br />
Qi Gong for Self-Healing<br />
STQ4 1895 DVD $11.98 / $19.95<br />
Qi Gong is a natural, time-honored method of cleansing<br />
the body and bolstering your own innate healing abilities.<br />
On this comprehensive DVD, veteran Qi Gong teacher<br />
Lee Holden walks you through a full body Qi Gong<br />
session that can be used to target trouble areas, or provide<br />
a complete Qi Gong experience. Holden begins<br />
with an overview of the chief acupressure points that will<br />
be utilized on the program. The 16-page study guide<br />
enclosed with the DVD can be useful if you need a<br />
refresher on the individual acupressure point locations.<br />
The main practice features a walkthrough of how to<br />
massage, tense and stimulate these points on the body.<br />
Holden offers detail on what each point will affect (circulation, insomnia, neck pain, etc), and<br />
the camera work provides close up shots of the movements for emphasis. The latter half of the<br />
workout focuses on classic Qi Gong movements that will further aid in opening lines of tension<br />
and encouraging the free flow of chi. 52 minute main practice plus a 30 minute sitting practice.<br />
TRUE MIND<br />
Managing Menopause Naturally<br />
KOC4 TMR68 DVD $11.98 / $19.98<br />
MANAGING MENOPAUSE NATURALLY is a comprehensive,<br />
80-minute DVD with a proactive, alternative<br />
take on the midlife years of women, addressing the<br />
issues that they face. The program explores and details<br />
both the physical and psychological symptoms women<br />
experience. This unique documentary focuses on holistic<br />
alternatives without ignoring established medical<br />
treatments a woman might choose. Andrew Weil, MD.,<br />
Fredi Kronenberg, PhD, Isis M. Medina DC, CCN and<br />
many other complementary healthcare professionals,<br />
nutritionists and midwives share their knowledge and<br />
wisdom about herbal remedies, supplements and diet.<br />
YEE, RODNEY<br />
Rodney Yee’s Daily Yoga<br />
GAI4 58515 DVD $7.48 / $12.98<br />
Master instructor Rodney Yee designs five distinct yoga<br />
practices developed specifically to take you through<br />
your week, enhancing your life along the way. On day<br />
one, you’ll build a strong foundation through moves<br />
that tackle body alignment and form. Day two features<br />
a practice that will help you burn calories and raise your<br />
stamina — perfect for developing week-long energy! Day<br />
three is aimed at the core — the body’s power center. By<br />
strengthening your core, you can get over that mid-week<br />
hump and be prepared for the rest of the week. Day four,<br />
dubbed “Clear It Out,” was developed to help you detox<br />
the body. Finally, day five is a stress relief practice. As a<br />
bonus, Yee provides a digital download of simple meditations<br />
to keep your mind clear and focused during the week. Running time: 100 minutes.<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011 41
<strong>Music</strong> for Relaxation<br />
DEUTER<br />
Earth Blue<br />
NER3 2716 CD $9.98 / $16.98<br />
Deuter presents another sublime fantasia of<br />
healing beauty in the form of EARTH BLUE, an<br />
exclusive collection for New Earth Records. The<br />
sounds featured here are extremely relaxing<br />
and ethereal, comprised of subtly ebbing and<br />
flowing synthesizer atmospheres, impressionistic<br />
piano melodies and the violin playing of Annette<br />
Cantor. At several points during the recording,<br />
nature sounds like lapping water and birdsong<br />
are incorporated into the backdrop of the pieces<br />
for an even stronger calming effect. This would be a great album to play while trying to<br />
meditate — the music is so dreamy and serene that it naturally makes your imagination want<br />
to take flight.<br />
DEUTER<br />
Empty Sky<br />
NER3 3115 CD $9.98 / $16.98<br />
EMPTY SKY features Deuter at the peak of his<br />
musical prowess. Once again he blankets the listener<br />
in soothing ambience that will lift you to the<br />
heights of tranquility. Each of the eight tracks feature<br />
smooth, atmospheric synthesizers that flow in<br />
healing waves. Harp and flute dance amongst the<br />
peaceful reverie, along with strings, recorder and<br />
piano. The entire soundscape has a strongly meditative<br />
quality to it, with slowly played instruments<br />
and a ‘Zen’ feel that is very appealing for healing<br />
work. This is particularly noticeable by the use of silence in between notes and the strumming<br />
of zither on “Empty Sky – Bamboo Calling.” Fans of past Deuter albums like BUDDHA NATURE<br />
and SEA AND SILENCE will be right at home with EMPTY SKY, as it features quiet, peaceinducing<br />
music that is reminiscent of those albums.<br />
FUKE, KENIO<br />
Relaxing Melodies of Nature<br />
RMZ3 5543 CD $9.98 / $16.98<br />
Brazilian pianist Kenio Fuke returns with his<br />
second album for Real <strong>Music</strong>, and once again,<br />
it’s breathtaking. RELAXING MELODIES OF<br />
NATURE wraps the listener in peaceful elegance,<br />
serenading audiences with soft piano melodies<br />
that are joined by tender string arrangements<br />
and the chatter of wildlife in the backdrop. A bit<br />
of guitar and oboe are likewise woven into the<br />
mix, revealing compositions that are filled with<br />
heart and tranquility. Fuke is successful in making<br />
the listener feel as if they are reveling in the glory<br />
of a sunny afternoon, spent taking in the ambiance of a garden. Close your eyes and listen to<br />
the beauty of a song like “Atmosphere,” where the sounds of peeping birds blend with lush<br />
melodies on piano, with violin backing. Perfect for stress relief!<br />
GORDON, DAVID & STEVE /<br />
SEQUOIA ARTISTS<br />
Reiki Healing Light:<br />
<strong>Music</strong> for Deep Meditation<br />
SQR3 928 CD $9.48 / $15.98<br />
Whether they are presenting their own material<br />
or that of like-minded contemporaries, David &<br />
Steve Gordon are a dependable source of exquisite<br />
music for the healing arts. REIKI HEALING<br />
LIGHT once again shows their skill in crafting an<br />
album tailor-made for relaxation and therapy. The<br />
music, designed either to be used as a companion<br />
for the art of Reiki or simply to create a lush<br />
atmosphere conducive to inner peace, offers over an hour of gentle music that will make you<br />
forget your worries and surrender to blissful serenity. Most of the songs are based on ethereal<br />
synth ambience, dotted with fluid keyboard tones. Piano, flute and guitar come into play on<br />
various tracks, with the occasional use of vocals, most notably on Sophia’s “Hidden Waters.”<br />
David & Steve are responsible for most of the album’s music, including the sublime “The<br />
Return,” which reminds one of gently trickling water in a fountain. Shajan, Ashron and Nik<br />
Tyndall & Bernd Scholl are also featured.<br />
42<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
KATER, PETER<br />
Wind, Rock, Sea & Flame<br />
PLI3 39 CD $6.48 / $10.98<br />
Peter Kater has long been one of the most<br />
beloved composers in new age music; a man<br />
whose ear for melody and knack for weaving<br />
instruments into peaceful soundscapes is unrivaled.<br />
He once again immerses listeners in a<br />
sanctuary of serenity with WIND, ROCK, SEA<br />
& FLAME. Inspired by his love for the Hawaiian<br />
Islands, the music features soft, moving pieces<br />
of music themed after the four elements. The<br />
music is entirely instrumental, featuring Kater’s<br />
signature piano blended with cello, flute, keyboards, soprano sax and light percussion. The<br />
music is dreamy and slightly reflective, with little touches that match each track’s elemental<br />
theme, like aquatic sounds in “Sea” and soaring birds in “wind.” These quiet themes bear<br />
a gentle majesty, while being wonderfully relaxing. The music would be perfectly suited for<br />
healing and stress relief.<br />
STROUTSOS, GARY<br />
Oasis<br />
WSM3 28 CD $9.98 / $16.98<br />
Aptly named, Gary Stroutsos’ OASIS offers listeners<br />
a tranquil sanctuary of soft flute music<br />
that is both earthy and Zen-like. The music on<br />
this album was recorded impromptu in one<br />
single take, thus resulting in a very personal<br />
meditation through music that is perfect for<br />
healing and finding inner peace. Stroutsos<br />
plays the pieces using a combination of rim<br />
and bass flutes. His spot-on use of silence and<br />
the low tones of the various flutes give the<br />
music an Asian flair, and often the sound is very reminiscent of a bansuri flute. The soundscape<br />
is mostly solo flute, though ocean waves are incorporated into “Forgotten Seas” and a low sitar<br />
drone swirls in the backdrop of “Dharma.” The rest of the songs offer warm, buttery flute tones<br />
and stark silences, making for a profound and deeply hypnotic musical experience.<br />
WILLIAMS, SARAJANE<br />
Harp <strong>Music</strong> for Healing<br />
STQ3 2128 CD $10.98 / $17.98<br />
Clear as a bell and soft as gossamer wings,<br />
the harp is an instrument that lifts the spirits<br />
with is ethereal strumming. The silky ambience<br />
and natural serenity it brings are perfect<br />
balms for the soul, bringing about healing<br />
as well as inner peace. Sarajane Williams is<br />
a veteran harpist whose lovely playing has<br />
graced stages throughout the Mid-Atlantic<br />
region. She is also a licensed psychologist<br />
who uses the instrument as part of her practice.<br />
HARP MUSIC FOR HEALING features nineteen sublime pieces of music that exhibit grace<br />
and bittersweet beauty. The tracklist features a mix of original compositions and beloved<br />
pieces from Ireland, France and Greece — all performed solo on harp by Williams. The music<br />
is ideal for stress relief and creating an environment of tranquility.<br />
Piano / Originals<br />
LANIER, STANTON<br />
Thousand Years, A<br />
NWM3 5271 CD $9.48 / $15.98<br />
Grace and elegance are two key components in<br />
the musical works of Stanton Lanier. A pianist with<br />
a light, gentle touch on the keys, Lanier’s music<br />
carries the perfect quotients of reflection, beauty<br />
and inspiration to evoke awe in the listener, not to<br />
mention a sense of peace. A THOUSAND YEARS<br />
marks another step in the musical wanderings of<br />
Lanier, this time focusing on music for the spirit.<br />
The album contains improvisations on some of the<br />
world’s most beloved classical works and hymns,<br />
including music from Pachelbel, Bach and Chopin, as well as timeless songs like “Holy Holy<br />
Holy” and “Amazing Grace.” Will Ackerman joins in to play the guitar, with Jill Haley playing<br />
French horn and Noah Wilding providing wordless vocals.
VARIOUS ARTISTS<br />
Cafe Buenos Aires (3 CD)<br />
MBB3 7098 CD $14.94 / $24.99<br />
With its sweeping strings, cascading pianos<br />
and overall exotic mood, tango music<br />
conjures images of romantic nights on the<br />
streets of Buenos Aires. It has surpassed<br />
the dance that spawned it, becoming the<br />
signature musical sound of Argentina. Grab<br />
a partner and dance ‘till the break of dawn<br />
with CAFE BUENOS AIRES, a collection<br />
of tango music with a vintage quality. The<br />
music consists of mainly traditional tango<br />
artists and songs (rather than modern tango fusion artists), with many of the songs coming<br />
straight from the ‘50s and ‘60s. Included here are music from Astor Piazzolla, Jorge Vidal,<br />
Francisco Canaro, Alberto Podesto y Orquesta Alberto de Paulo, Domingo Federico and three<br />
discs worth of other top-notch pioneers of tango music.<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS<br />
Cafe Flamenco (3 CD)<br />
MBB3 7095 CD $14.94 / $24.99<br />
Imagine the sight of the sun descending<br />
over the Mediterranean. You are kicking<br />
back with friends at a sidewalk café, taking<br />
in the sights and sounds of Southern Spain.<br />
In the air, you notice the earthy strumming<br />
of flamenco guitar music, its familiar gypsy-<br />
Spanish rhythms beckoning you to indulge<br />
in the beauty of Spain. CAFE FLAMENCO<br />
seeks to paint this portrait of the Iberian<br />
Peninsula with three discs of stirring<br />
flamenco music. The tracks range in style, from percolating rumbas to earthy flamenco<br />
folk tunes to modern songs that incorporate synthesizers, trip-hop beats and world fusion<br />
elements. Artists include Ojos de Brujo, Freedom Dub with Amparo Soler, Maria Jiminez, Buika<br />
and many others.<br />
Lounge <strong>Music</strong><br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS<br />
Cafe Ipanema (3 CD)<br />
MBB3 7097 CD $14.94 / $24.99<br />
CAFE IPANEMA whisks the listener away<br />
to a beachside café on the coast of Rio to<br />
indulge in the sultry beauty of bossa nova<br />
music. Spanning three discs, the compilation<br />
offers a mix of songs from established<br />
bossa nova pioneers and new faces to the<br />
samba scene. Veterans like Antonio Carlos<br />
Jobim, Caetano Veloso, Joao Gilberto,<br />
Astrud Gilberto and Milton Nascimento<br />
bring up the traditional side of the album,<br />
with that smooth, classic bossa nova sound that has made the style a favorite for decades.<br />
Intermixed with these artists are modern artists incorporating electronic instrumentation, like<br />
the always popular Thievery Corporation, bossa nova fusionist Seu Jorge, and newcomers like<br />
Sao Vicente, Maria Creuza, Cherie Currie and Baden Powell. The tropical vibe and jazzy flavor<br />
make the music great for ambiance, especially when you want a chilled mood.<br />
VARIOUS ARTISTS<br />
Cafe Venezia (3 CD)<br />
MBB3 7096 CD $14.94 / $24.99<br />
Dramatic romance and wistful string<br />
arrangements dance in the air on this<br />
moonlight stroll down the canals and<br />
boardwalks of Venice. This compilation<br />
from Strategic Imports features three discs<br />
worth of music to set a mood consistent<br />
with the beauty of this historic city. Most of<br />
the songs feature Italian vocals and dreamy<br />
arrangements (horns, guitars, mandolin,<br />
keyboards), with an emotive folk/pop sensibility,<br />
perfect for a candlelight dinner. The music is both festive and full of longing. Included<br />
are cuts from Nicoli Di Bari, Memo Remigi, Domenico Modugno, Tony Dallara and many others,<br />
adding up to nearly three hours of top-notch music.<br />
A <strong>Music</strong>Al FeAst oF RhythM & Bliss!<br />
Guitar Meditations Vol. 3<br />
SOULFOOD & Friends<br />
Serene acoustic guitar with gentle flutes, keyboards and<br />
soundscapes. Perfect for spas, massage and relaxation.<br />
A MUSICAL FEAST OF RHYTHM & BLISS<br />
NEW<br />
Buddha Chill<br />
SOULFOOD & DJ Free<br />
A world tour of global grooves,<br />
downtempo beats and<br />
Asian soundscapes.<br />
Yoga Groove 2<br />
SOULFOOD with Brent Lewis<br />
Tribal rhythms and chill grooves<br />
perfect for fitness Yoga.<br />
Zen Lounge<br />
SOULFOOD & DJ Free<br />
Global rhythms and chill grooves<br />
create a hypnotic East meets West<br />
chill vibe.<br />
SpaScapes<br />
SOULFOOD<br />
<strong>Music</strong> that brings peace and<br />
tranquility to the body, mind<br />
and spirit.<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011 43
Ancient Sounds—Future Science!<br />
Enter a New Dimension of Sound<br />
JSG3 2222<br />
CHAKRA/BRAINWAVE HARMONIZER<br />
from Jonathan Goldman & Andi Goldman<br />
a musical first—sound that simultaneously<br />
balances the chakras and brainwaves!<br />
The Harmonizer may be the most transformational<br />
sound experience you have ever heard.<br />
Includes:<br />
Chakra Tones, Sacred Vowel<br />
Sounds, Bija Mantras, Pythagorean<br />
Tuning Forks, Binaural Entrainment<br />
Frequencies, and much more.<br />
With 16 pages of liner notes on<br />
the creation and uses of this<br />
astounding recording.<br />
IN-STORE PLAY DEMO CDs AVAILABLE ON REQUEST<br />
ChakraBrainwaveHarmon_MusDsn_0511 1 5/18/11 6:34:31 AM<br />
44 IN REVIEW | September / October 2011
Balance body, mind and spirit with the<br />
extraordinary Hemi-Sync ® brainwave technology<br />
Chakra Meditation with Hemi-Sync ®<br />
Dolphin sounds and music combine to help align and balance each of the seven major<br />
chakras in this verbally guided Hemi-Sync ® exercise, developed and voiced by Eluv.<br />
The affirmations included are designed to optimize each chakra for an overall sense of<br />
well-being.<br />
Dimensions in Time<br />
Deborah Martin and Erik Wøllo subtly blend modern ambient textures and soundscapes<br />
with ancient and traditional voices/instruments in this homage to the American<br />
Indian. Includes onsite location recordings, Apache Crown Dancer songs and Apache<br />
drums, partial segments of Omaha and Kiowa Indian cylinder recordings from 1894,<br />
and live recordings of Kiowa powwow songs.<br />
Elation<br />
Michael Maricle’s uplifting electronic music combines with Hemi-Sync ® to facilitate a<br />
highly focused state of attention while enhancing memory. Tend to tasks with confidence<br />
while balancing and sustaining energy, and experience clarity of thought in the absence<br />
of distractions. May also be helpful for ADD/ADHD and other learning challenges.<br />
Heaven and Earth with Hemi-Sync ®<br />
John Gregorius mixes acoustic and electric music with fingerstyle guitar and ambient<br />
textures, creating a peaceful space for you to contemplate the splendor of life. Hemi-<br />
Sync ® frequencies harmoniously blend with this gentle and uplifting music, providing a<br />
perfect environment for quiet reflection and deep relaxation.<br />
Serenity<br />
Sit back, close your eyes, and allow this gentle and harmonious interlude to refresh<br />
and nurture. This collection of select compositions are combined with Hemi-Sync ®<br />
frequencies to create a space of profound relaxation, soothing the mind and emotions<br />
to lift you out of the stresses of daily life.<br />
Explore the Original ®<br />
The <strong>Music</strong> of Graceful Passages with Hemi-Sync ®<br />
From the best-selling CD-book Graceful Passages, this music by Gary Malkin will immerse<br />
you in your own private refuge of tranquility and reflection. Experience this listening meditation<br />
as you traverse any significant transition in your life; so that you can remember who<br />
you are, live with an awareness of what matters most, and remember that you are never<br />
alone.physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies.<br />
Monroe Products ®<br />
Hemi-Sync.com®<br />
©2011 Monroe Products ®<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
45
“Zero to Zen in Ten (seconds)!”<br />
Relaxation and Healing at the speed of sound...<br />
With STeven Halpern, All you have to do is listen TM<br />
UPC: 0-9379180442-1<br />
UPC: 0-9379180002-7<br />
Chakra Suite<br />
The original #1<br />
best-selling CHAKRA CD<br />
—Over 700,000 sold!<br />
“The cornerstone of any<br />
healing music library.”<br />
— Amazon.com<br />
In-store demos may still be available! Ask your MUSIC DESIGN sales rep.<br />
46 IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
UPC: 0-9379180332-5<br />
Steven Halpern<br />
Paradigm Shift<br />
A musical masterpiece featuring the<br />
orchestral harmonics of grand piano,<br />
atmospheric synths<br />
• Catchy melodies that transport you deeper into<br />
the space between the notes<br />
• The amazing Michael Manring, bass virtuoso<br />
• 3 smooth jazz/funkified bonus tracks that<br />
energize the healing soundfield<br />
• Sets a new standard of sonic excellence in the<br />
sound healing field<br />
Be sure you have Steven’s all-time best-sellers in stock.<br />
Relaxation Suite<br />
With 2009 Grammy® winner<br />
DAVID DARLING, mello cello<br />
The warm tone and sweet melodies<br />
of the cello add a delightful new<br />
dimension to Halpern’s breathtaking<br />
arrangements and keyboard artistry.<br />
UPC: 0-9379178782-3<br />
<strong>Music</strong> for<br />
Sound Healing<br />
A great introduction to the<br />
benefits of therapeutic<br />
sound in the healing arts.<br />
Grand piano, keyboards,<br />
flute and harp.
“Deep TheTa takes brainwave entrainment and<br />
balancing soundscapes to a higher octave of<br />
coherence, bliss and healing.” — Leading Edge Review<br />
UPC: 0-9379180472-8<br />
H New compositions from the #1 bestselling artist in the genre<br />
H Features the new Rhodes Mark 7 electric piano<br />
H Composed in the ‘theta zone’ for maximum mindfield resonance<br />
H Special MSRP — $9.99 to help you sell through<br />
UPC: 0-9379180342-4<br />
Steven Halpern<br />
Deep tHeta<br />
HigH CoHerenCe SounDSCapeS tM<br />
Sure to please existing Halpern fans<br />
and resonate with the growing<br />
audience wanting deeper<br />
mind, body and spirit experiences<br />
SleepScapeDelta<br />
“A Sound Solution to Sleepless Nights!”<br />
The #1 functional healing music<br />
to solve the problem of insufficient sleep<br />
H 65 million Americans have this problem<br />
H Stock this CD and help your customers sleep<br />
H Aural-SyncTM Brainwave Entrainment in the<br />
delta range (1-3 cycles per second)<br />
H Special MSRP — $9.99 to help you sell through<br />
H <strong>Music</strong> for sleep never sounded this good!<br />
Ask your MUSIC DESIGN sales rep for in-store demos!<br />
Steven Halpern —<br />
The most trusted name<br />
in Sound Healing TM<br />
NEW!<br />
36 th<br />
ANNIVERSARY<br />
Sound<br />
IN REVIEW | September / October 2011<br />
®<br />
47
20048 NE San Rafael St.<br />
Portland, OR 97230-7549<br />
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED<br />
PWM3 285<br />
Swing into the holidays with this<br />
festive collection of jazz and blues<br />
Christmas songs!<br />
SM<br />
PWM3 314<br />
Beautiful Irish and Scottish voices, entrancing Celtic<br />
Instrumentation and classic Christmas carols provide<br />
an uplifting soundtrack for the holiday season.<br />
Features two original recordings.<br />
PRSRT STD<br />
U.S. POSTAGE<br />
PAID<br />
Milwaukee, WI<br />
Permit No. 3184<br />
PWM3 256<br />
Deck the halls with blues, jazz and<br />
swing holiday classics from the Big Easy.<br />
ORDER: 1•800•862•7232 FAX: 1•414 •961•8381 Browse, listen to samples and place orders with our full-featured Business-to-Business website:<br />
www.musicdesign.com<br />
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