An Intimate Christmas

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Danny Wright proves that less is more on his aptly titled An Intimate Christmas, featuring a dozen pieces, most of them just on piano. He understands that small strokes, not big statements, make the season bright, and whether approaching hymns such as "Oh Come Emanuel" or chestnuts like "White Christmas," Wright plays with a depth that borders on meditation. The effect is rewarding, as the gifted pianist finds ways to refresh the most covered songs in the Christmas canon with passion and constraint. Even his four memorable originals frame the set with an intimacy often missing from similar discs. "My Son's Lullaby" and "Gloria's Prayer" (both about family members) and the telling numbers "Be Still" and "Peace Within" retain a quiet majesty that serves as a fitting refuge from the ceaseless white noise of the holidays. --Martin Keller

Product Description
Pianist extraordinaire Danny Wright is one of the most prolific and best-selling songwriters/composers of his time. Trained as a classical pianist, his original compositions and performances are a blend of contemporary jazz, classical and neoclassical styles, as well as Broadway and classic film arrangements. Over the past 15 years, he's released 20 albums all on independent labels, and sold over 4 million records. Danny was also named by Billboard Magazine as a Top 10 New Age artist, and he's been a "Steinway Artist" for the majority of his career. His warm, charismatic personality reverberates through recordings and concert halls, touching the lives of listeners everywhere. Danny's latest Christmas album, An Intimate Christmas, is his first in seven years.

An Intimate Christmas,Danny Wright,Atco,Christmas / Chanukkah,Contemporary Instrumental,Neo-Classical,New Age,Pop,Xmas Vocal

Tracks:

The First Noel
Holly and Ivy
My Son's Lullaby
Silen Night
Oh Come Emanuel
Peace Within
Joy to the World
White Christmas
So Still
What Child Is This?
Gloria's Prayer
Carol of the Bell

Amazon.com

Danny Wright proves that less is more on his aptly titled An Intimate Christmas, featuring a dozen pieces, most of them just on piano. He understands that small strokes, not big statements, make the season bright, and whether approaching hymns such as "Oh Come Emanuel" or chestnuts like "White Christmas," Wright plays with a depth that borders on meditation. The effect is rewarding, as the gifted pianist finds ways to refresh the most covered songs in the Christmas canon with passion and constraint. Even his four memorable originals frame the set with an intimacy often missing from similar discs. "My Son's Lullaby" and "Gloria's Prayer" (both about family members) and the telling numbers "Be Still" and "Peace Within" retain a quiet majesty that serves as a fitting refuge from the ceaseless white noise of the holidays. --Martin Keller

Album Description

Pianist extraordinaire Danny Wright is one of the most prolific and best-selling songwriters/composers of his time. Trained as a classical pianist, his original compositions and performances are a blend of contemporary jazz, classical and neoclassical styles, as well as Broadway and classic film arrangements. Over the past 15 years, he's released 20 albums all on independent labels, and sold over 4 million records. Danny was also named by Billboard Magazine as a Top 10 New Age artist, and he's been a "Steinway Artist" for the majority of his career. His warm, charismatic personality reverberates through recordings and concert halls, touching the lives of listeners everywhere. Danny's latest Christmas album, An Intimate Christmas, is his first in seven years.

Customer Reviews:

an intimate christmas.......2007-01-10

I thought it was so beautiful. Having met Danny in a home setting and hearing him play it was even better picturing him as he played the CD.
I am looking forward to the others that I ordered.
He is a true artist.

great Christmas music.......2007-01-09

It's a perfect CD for a mellow sound at Christmas. Particularly, nice when you have guests and makes a great gift.

Best for Intimate Moments.......2005-11-02

This is perhaps my favorite Danny Wright Christmas CD, and they are all worth owning. This CD emphasizes gentler tunes, perfect for sitting by the fireplace. Very familiar songs masterfully portrayed. Makes you want to hum along and gives you a sense of peace. Do yourself and someone you love a favor and get this CD.

Simply put, the best solo piano Christmas album!.......2005-07-25

I purchased a copy of "An Intimate Christmas" for myself just prior to Christmas and ended up ordering several copies to give as gifts. Everyone that received this, even those with "hard to please" musical tastes, loved it! This album is great to have playing in the background when sharing an evening with friends, family or by yourself just sitting sipping hot chocolate in front of the tree and reflecting on fond memories of Christmas past. This album quickly found its way to the top of my list of favorite albums to enjoy during the holidays and I'm sure you'll feel the same.

Average customer rating:

Great harmonies, great choices of Christmas music
...and 1/2 ... Lovely and creative works that twinkle like colorful lights on a Christmas tree

Midwinter: Songs of Christmas
Misty River
Manufacturer: Misty River
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
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A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection

ASIN: B0006SSS0U
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Tracks:

All That I Want
Back Home
All Through the Night
Cradle Hymn
In the Bleak Midwinter
Beautiful Star of Bethlehem
What Child Is This
Don't Take Down the Mistletoe
Silent Night
Empty Christmas Stocking
Peace
Merry Merry Christmas

Customer Reviews:

Great harmonies, great choices of Christmas music.......2007-01-04

Misty River's four members each bring different elements of voice; their harmony is close and varied; there are leads by each member. The group consists of string bass, accordian, fiddle/guitar and guitar. They blend beautifully. There's a hint of humor in their music. some of this album is traditional, some they've written, some is songs I hadn't heard before from other artists.

...and 1/2 ... Lovely and creative works that twinkle like colorful lights on a Christmas tree.......2005-12-12

Playing Time - 40:02 -- Remember when, before 1980, that every major artist had a Christmas album? Then, record labels and radio programmers cut back on holiday music. Fortunately, the dearth only lasted about a decade before Christmas music experienced a major resurgence. With the 2004 release of Misty River's "Midwinter," Santa's reindeer and elves have much to rejoice. My favorite Christmas albums have a healthy dose of angelic singing, sparkling instrumental work, and meditative messages. Misty River succeeds on all counts, with their lovely and creative works that twinkle like colorful lights on a Christmas tree.

Guitarist Doug Smith offers some buoyant lead work on "All Through the Night" and "What Child is This." If I'd been producing "Midwinter," I might've recommended a few additional seasonal instruments in the mix. For some reason, I just heard a song like "Cradle Hymn" embellished with the likes of perhaps some hammered dulcimer, concertina, whistle and/or flute. There's a story behind this beautiful song that was learned from a Seeger Family holiday recording. Misty River dedicates the song to Eva and Nina, twins born prematurely to well-known Northwest musician Leah Larson. While Eva lived only a few short weeks, she will be forever remembered as they sing "Hush my babe, lie still and slumber...all the angels guard thy bed...."

When one listens to "Midwinter," we become akin to close friends of the four women in the band. Their confident voices immediately command our rapt attention. The surprise treats in our stocking, however, are the four notable originals on this album. Perhaps it was a band-imposed homework assignment, but it's an exceptional statement about the band members' creative energy in that each of the four contributes an original self-penned song. Laura Quigley's "Back Home" is an enchanting ballad with a nice melodic bounce. Chris Kokesh's "Don't Take Down the Mistletoe" just reinforces why she is an award-winning songwriter. "Peace," composed by Dana Abel, is a call to children for a coming together beyond the horizon. Carol Harley's "Merry Merry Christmas" is the one-minute a cappella closer with their wishes for your good health, long life, happiness, and holidays filled with cheer. "Midwinter" is an album with warm and pleasant sounds for a fireside Christmas with your families and friends. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

Average customer rating:

This Christmas Wish
Sara Hickman
Manufacturer: Sleeveless
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music

Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Country Folk | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Singer Songwriters | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B00008PX2B
Release Date: 2002-03-03

Tracks:

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Silent Night
The Last Month of the Year
Frosty the Snowman
Angels Among Us
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
The Reason We Have Christmas in the World (Lil' Bits Lullaby)
Kiss This Christmas Goodbye

Lifetime Intimate Portraits: Christmas Belles

Average customer rating:

Buy it for Nancy Wilson's "That's What I Want For Christmas"
"Christmas Belles" CD-It's a wonderful silk stocking stuffer
The joyful singing of the Christmas Belles
Outstanding collection, wonderful choices

Lifetime Intimate Portraits: Christmas Belles
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

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Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Holiday Music | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Pop Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Pop Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
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Jingle Bell Swing
Vintage Christmas Cracker
Merry 1940's Christmas
Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails, Part One
Rhino: Swingin Christmas

ASIN: B00004XSZA
Release Date: 2000-10-03

Tracks:

Sleigh Ride - Ella Fitzgerald
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland
Warm December - Julie London
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Lena Horne
Christmas Time Is Here - Rosemary Clooney
Jingle Bells Cha-Cha-Cha - Pearl Bailey
Christmas Carousel - Peggy Lee
That's What I Want For Christmas - Nancy Wilson
Papa Noel - Brenda Lee
Ole Santa - Dinah Washington
Silver Bells - Doris Day
Love Turns Winter To Spring - June Christy
Snowbound - Sarah Vaughan
Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt

Amazon.com

Christmas Belles is stocked with the crooning, caroling, and scatting of Garland, Fitzgerald, London, Horne, Clooney, Vaughan, Kitt, and others. Although these singers' last names are as memorable as the names of Santa's reindeer, their careers obviously transcend the holiday genre of music. Featuring some of America's primary female vocalists, from pop to jazz, this rich, 14-track sampler seldom disappoints. There's Ella Fitzgerald's lovably upbeat "Sleigh Ride," and Judy Garland's romantically melancholy "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," seemingly written just for her. There is so much enjoyable singing on Christmas Belles, in fact, that by the time you reach Sarah Vaughan's lushly orchestrated "Snowbound," you're left wanting to hear more and more from these timeless beauties. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews:

Buy it for Nancy Wilson's "That's What I Want For Christmas".......2004-12-05

I had heard this wonderful, romantic tune "That's What I Want For Christmas" a while back and could only find it on this collection. The piece is so well crafted, and Nancy Wilson sings it with such heartfelt longing, it's just beautiful. This song speaks to what we all truly want in our lives, not just for Christmas (a hint: it's not sugar plums).
I bought the disc solely for this one song, but I have to admit that the rest of the selections are great, too. Highlights for me are "Sleigh Ride", made fresh again for me by this distinctively 'Ella' rendition, Judy Garland's deliciously rich "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" and the cute, campy "Jingle Bells Cha Cha Cha" by Pearl Bailey.
Yes, this disc is definitely worth buying- a great find!

"Christmas Belles" CD-It's a wonderful silk stocking stuffer.......2002-12-28

Wow, catch this one. Ella. Sarah. Eartha. Julie. Dinah. Pearl. Rosemary. Peggy. Nancy. Lena. June. Brenda. Judy. See? They're such famous female pop/jazz vocalists,you don't even need their last names to know you they are. Most of the Holiday tunes are perennial hits. But others are obscure treasures. For example, Julie London's "Warm December" and Sassy's "Snowbound" and Peggy Lee's "Christmas Carousel."

By the way, I was really annoyed by the revue written by one Raymond Hughes, of New Castle upon Tyne, Great Britain-- a self-proclaimed professional music critic. Raymond didn't like Rosemary Clooney's rendition of "Christmas Time is Here," the sensitive Vince Guaraldi jazz composition from The Charlie Brown Xmas special.
He said that Rosemary was over the hill when she made the recording, and that it was an embarrassment. Tsk, tsk, Raymond. Did the fact that Rosemary was singing in a lower register bother you? Her sensitivity to the lyrics was beautiful. Yet you didn't like the cut? I'll bet you were also perturbed when Frank Sinatra's voice matured and his voice dropped down to make him a great "saloon singer." Was he then over the hill too?

As a matter of fact, I was in a gift store and heard Rosemary singing the tune. I bought the CD because of her rendition!
Dear readers,"Christmas Belles", is a lovely Holiday CD.

The joyful singing of the Christmas Belles.......2002-02-16

This album oozes class. The voices of these consumate singers in their prime puts most modern renditions to shame. The highlights for me are the oft neglected 'That's what I want for Christmas', sung by Nancy Wilson, and the sultry Eartha Kitt's 'Santa Baby'. Eartha's earthy rendition make's Madonna sound 'like a virgin'. I have only one gripe...the embarassing 'Christmas time is here', sung by Rosemary Clooney. It was recorded in 1994 when Rosemary was way past her prime. But there are 13 pearls on this album and only one piece of grit.

Outstanding collection, wonderful choices.......2000-12-14

Despite the somewhat cheesy "Lifetime Intimate Portraits" branding, this collection of Christmas songs sung by various female vocalists is outstanding. The pacing is wonderful, moving smoothly from more upbest to slower and back again, and some of the choices (e.g., Papa Noel, sung by Brenda Lee) are refreshingly unusual without causing "What the heck is THAT?" shock. My only gripe would be the choice of the ubiquitous "Santa Baby" done by Eartha Kitt - it seems to go on forever, and haven't we heard it enough yet? The liner notes are great, also. I keep this one in my desktop computer at work, and never grow tired of listening to it. Merry Christmas!

Average customer rating:

Christmas Around the World by Lyric Brass Quintet

Christmas Around the World

Manufacturer: Orchard
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000085J9E
Release Date: 2002-12-23

Tracks:

Leontovich: Carol of the Bells
Plainsong Chant: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Trad. French: Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
Trad. French: Angels We Have Heard on High
Trad. Catalonian Carol: Fum, Fum, Fum
Franz GrSilent Night
Trad. English: Echo Carol (While By My Sheep)
Trad. Irish: Wexford Carol
Trad. French: Sing We Now of Christmas
H. J. Gauntlett: Once in Royal Davids City
Trad. English: Rejoice and Be Merry (Gallery Carol)
Trad. Welsh: Suo G
Trad. Welsh: Deck the Halls
William Billings: Judea
John Jacob Niles: I Wonder As I Wander
Trad. American Spirituals: American Folk Suite/Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow/Brightest and Best/Go, Tell It on the Mountain
Mel Torme: The Christmas Song
Leroy Anderson: Sleigh Ride
M. Martni/R. Blai: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
G. Autry/O. Haldeman: Here Comes Santa Claus
Haven Gillespie and J. Fred Coots: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Johnny Marks: Rudolf, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Sammy Cahn: Let It Snow
Mendelssohn: Joy to the World
Trad. English: We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Album Description

The Lyric Brass take you around the world with treasured Christmas favorites and undiscovered gems. Presented in unique and powerful arrangements, this disc is sure to delight for years to come.

Customer Reviews:

Christmas Around the World by Lyric Brass Quintet.......2006-12-09

I purchased this album because I wanted to listen to traditional Christmas music played by a brass quintet.
What I got was an album of poorly arranged music performed by an equally poor brass quintet. The arrangements are so dissonant that it makes the music unpleasant to listen to. One has a difficult time identifying the melodies. The arrangements are very unmusical. The arranger(s) obviously don't know anything about writing for a brass quintet or about arranging music.
The performance of this music by the quintet is just terrible. The playing by individual members shows all the weaknesses in their playing. I would not rate this as a professional brass quintet. A good brass quintet plays with sensitivity, balance, rhythm and control. This group doesn't know what that's about.
This was a real waste of my money and time.

Average customer rating:

Spirit - cherished carols of Christmas
Walt Wagner
Manufacturer: Semaphone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000BOW2LA
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Tracks:

O Jerus'lem In The Morning
Rise Up, Shepherd, And Follow
Fairest Jesus
I Wonder As I Wander
What Child Is This?
Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
My Lord, What A Morning
Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head
Ges Bambin L'e Nato
Coventry Carol
Carol Of The Light
Adoramus Te
Silent Night

Album Description

Pianist Walt Wagner's intimate, full sound and respectfully extemporaneous way of playing give these beloved carols new life. On this recording are several less-familiar European and American traditional Christmas carols, along with fresh, meditative versions of some of the more standard ones. There is even a completely improvised piece, "Carol Of The Light". Originally released (in 1986) on LP and tape, this collection has been carefully remastered for CD, and three bonus tracks have been added.