Staff finds diamond and coal stocking stuffers.Byline: The Register-Guard Register-Guard staffers reviewed some of the holiday CDs that came through the mail. Here's what they heard, and what they said about the music. A NANCY WILSON CHRISTMAS (MCG Jazz) Jazz vocalist Nancy Wilson may have fallen off the radar screens, but she certainly hasn't lost her touch. Blessed with a spectacular voice and an easy-swinging style, Wilson is back with a holiday album suitable for the entire family - albeit an extremely hip family. Backed by the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, Wilson lets it all loose on the hard-swinging "Let It Snow," the smooth "Silver Bells" and the soft "O Christmas Tree Christmas tree Evergreen tree, usually decorated with lights and ornaments, to celebrate the Christmas season. The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands as symbols of eternal life was common among the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. ." Also supporting Wilson in combo settings are the New York Voices New York Voices is the Grammy Award winning vocal ensemble renowned for their excellence in jazz and the art of group singing. Like the greTat groups that have come before, such as Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, Singers Unlimited, Manhattan Transfer and Take 6, they have learned from the , Monty Alexander, Jon Faddis, Slide Hampton, James Moody, Jimmy Heath and Herbie Mann. Wilson likes the unpredictable, but nothing quite prepares the listener for a bossa nova version of "White Christmas." Only Wilson could make that concept work. - Fred Crafts HOLIDAYLAND They Might Be Giants (Restless Records) When you pick up an album by the New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of duo They Might Be Giants, you know you're in for something a little off the wall. The Giants' new holiday CD is no exception. "Santa Claus" is a loungy Sonics cover from the 1960s. "Careless Santa" is totally new wave. And the band's take on "O Tannenbaum" is an alt country/klezmer version - in German. The Giants do a fine job of recasting Christmas (and Hanukkah) music, and the album probably will make you laugh, but the insensitive Santa humor wears a bit thin. All in all, "Holidayland" is a little tame by Giants standards. - Lewis Taylor SING NOEL The Motet Singers The Motet Singers' first holiday CD is a winner. This elegant, all-female a cappella ensemble charms and entrances. Much of the music on this 20-track CD is serious. "A la Puerta del Cielo," "Riu, Riu, Chiu," "Jesus Christ the Apple Tree Jesus Christ the Apple Tree is a poem written by an unknown New Englander. It has been set to music by a number of composers, including Elizabeth Poston. The piece is performed by choirs around the world, especially during the Christmas season. " and "Ave Maria" are splendid. Without breaking style, the 12-member Eugene choir also burnishes holiday classics such as "Deck the Halls," "White Christmas," "The Christmas Song" and "The Holly and the Ivy." The CD is available at a dozen local retail outlets. It also can be ordered by calling choir members Ingrid Wendt (343-5101) or Connie Burden (344-5271). - Fred Crafts SEASON'S GREETINGS: THE MILLENNIUM COLLECTION Various artists (Hip-O Records) This three-disc anthology leads off well, bats .500 in the middle and slumps to .250 at the end. Disc 1 is rich with classic oldies Oldies is a generic term commonly used to describe a radio format that usually concentrates on Top 40 music from the '50s, '60s and '70s. Oldies are typically from R&B, pop and rock music genres. by inimitable in·im·i·ta·ble adj. Defying imitation; matchless. [Middle English, from Latin inimit song stylists, blessed with smart lyrics and good melodies: Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Judy Garland, Jimmy Durante, Brook Benton, Mel Torme, Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Washington. Not even the Harry Simeone Chorale's annoying "Little Drummer Boy" and other tracks of its ilk can spoil this set. Disc 2 mixes rock 'n' roll rock 'n' roll: see rock music. , blues, country and Motown, and it's a mixed bag in terms of quality, too. The best tracks: Chuck Berry's "Merry Christmas, Baby," Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby," the Temptations' "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is a popular Christmas story about Santa Claus' ninth and lead reindeer who possesses an unusually red colored nose that gives off its own light that is powerful enough to illuminate the team's path through inclement weather. " and Kathy Mattea's version of Steve Earle's "Nothing But a Child." The worst, hands down: "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" by the Jackson 5. Aside from Aaron Neville's "Please Come Home for Christmas," the Supremes' version of "The Christmas Song" and Stephanie Mills' "White Christmas," Disc 3 is pretty much a waste. Tracks by New Edition, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Brian McKnight, Boyz II Men Boyz II Men is an American R&B/soul singing group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1988 as a quintet which originally included Marc Nelson, Boyz II Men found fame as a quartet, with members Nathan Morris, Michael McCary, Shawn Stockman, and Wanya Morris, on Motown , the Isley Brothers, Angela Winbush and Dru Hill are sad evidence of what happens when producers, labels and marketers become more important than singing and songwriting talent. Across the three discs, it's fun to compare versions of "White Christmas" (Crosby and Mills), "The Christmas Song" (Torme and Diana Ross) and "Silent Night" (Dinah Washington and the Temptations). - Paul Denison IN THE SPIRIT Michael McDonald (MCA Records) Michael McDonald, the singer who brought soul to Steely Dan and the Doobie doo·bie n. Slang A marijuana cigarette. [Origin unknown.] Brothers, is back with a Christmas album of standards and originals that runs the gamut from gospel to rock. McDonald tries to breathe new life into Christmas classics such as "White Christmas" and "Angels We Have Heard on High," but he does better with his own material. The decision to include his family members on one holiday song is not a wise one. McDonald's voice is still stunning, and he is at his soulful best harmonizing with himself on originals such as "To Make a Miracle," a ballad that recalls some of his best work. - Lewis Taylor A SURF 'N' SWING, FRET 'N' STRING CHRISTMAS Nokie Edwards & the Light Crust Doughboys The Light Crust Doughboys were a Texas western swing band formed in 1931 by Bob Wills, Milton Brown and W. Lee (Pappy) O'Daniel. The band achieved its peak popularity in the years leading up to World War II. (Art Greenhaw Records) You'd think that with a swing band and a banjo banjo, stringed musical instrument, with a body resembling a tambourine. The banjo consists of a hoop over which a skin membrane is stretched; it has a long, often fretted neck and four to nine strings, which are plucked with a pick or the fingers. band from Texas, the Jordanaires on vocals and Ventures guitarist Nokie Edwards as a guest, you could make a pretty nifty Christmas album. You'd think wrong. Although everyone may have had a good time making this homegrown product, it's poorly engineered and laid back to the point of insipidity in·sip·id adj. 1. Lacking flavor or zest; not tasty. 2. Lacking qualities that excite, stimulate, or interest; dull. [French insipide, from Late Latin - except for a Ventures-style "Swan Lake Christmas," which oddly features Doughboy Art Greenhaw, not Edwards. That song - and "A Closer Walk," with Edwards, the Doughboys and the Jordanaires - are the two best tracks. - Paul Denison MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT The Trail Band (Trails End) In its newest holiday recording, the Trail Band wraps holiday favorites in an acoustic gloss that can only be called "Trail Band style": a charming wind, string and percussion amalgam that will make even the Grinchiest grump smile. The talented ensemble roars out of the gate with a bluegrass bluegrass, any species of the large and widely distributed genus Poa, chiefly range and pasture grasses of economic importance in temperate and cool regions. In general, bluegrasses are perennial with fine-leaved foliage that is bluish green in some species. blowout, "New Baby King," then rips through the Celtic "Flexible Flyer" and the banjo-driven "Noel Lullaby." Among the other tracks are concert favorites such as "Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming," "El Rorro" and "Il Est ne le Divin Enfant," as well as vocalist Linda Hornbuckle's gospel grinder, "Road to Heaven." But the highlight of this CD is a masterful setting of P.I. Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" that has "Christmas classic" written all over it. A first-rate CD from a first-class ensemble. - Fred Crafts SANTA CLAUS IS GOING TO TOWN Tom Grant (Doubleplay) When the weather outside is frightful, nothing could be more delightful than dipping into this playful CD. Massaging seasonal favorites in a variety of piano styles guaranteed to bring warmth, the Portland-based `smooth jazz' pioneer leaves that genre far behind. "Winter Wonderland" and "My Favorite Things" give Grant an opportunity to show his impressive modern jazz chops. But he also just wants to have a good time, and nothing is more fun than the light vocal duet "Baby It's Cold Outside" with Rebecca Kilgore or his jazzy jazz·y adj. jazz·i·er, jazz·i·est 1. Resembling jazz in form or nature; rhythmical. 2. Slang Showy; flashy: a jazzy car. musings on "Christmas Time Is Here," "White Christmas" and "Blue Christmas." - Fred Crafts THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE Kirk Whalum (Warner Bros BROS Brothers BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington) BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) .) Unless you enjoy carnage, stay out of the reach of Kirk Whalum's drifty new release. It's like watching a train wreck train wreck Medtalk A popular term for a multiproblem Pt in critical condition in slow motion. The smooth-jazz saxman is as predictable as a traffic signal. After establishing the mostly familiar tunes, he breathlessly improvises on them ad nauseam. This approach is barely tolerable on originals by pianist John Stoddard such as "Love From a Star" and "The Christmas Message." It's an unmitigated un·mit·i·gat·ed adj. 1. Not diminished or moderated in intensity or severity; unrelieved: unmitigated suffering. 2. disaster on classics such as "The First Noel" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem O Little Town of Bethlehem traditional Christmas carol. [Western Culture: “0 Little Town of Bethlehem” in Rockwell, 120–121] See : Christmas ." There's far better noodling
Noodling is the practice and sport of fishing for catfish using only one's bare hands. in a pot of spaghetti. Whoever encouraged Whalum to unleash this beast deserves a lump of coal. - Fred Crafts CAPTION(S): Left: Nancy Wilson's album features numerous jazz legends. Right: Eugene's Motet Singers also have produced a holiday CD. Above: Fred Crafts says the new holiday album from Oregon's Trail Band delivers `a charming wind, string and percussion amalgam that will make even the Grinchiest grump smile.' Left: Crafts says Tom Grant's CD gives the gift of `massaging seasonal favorites in a variety of piano styles guaranteed to bring warmth and merriment.' |
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