New CDs Offer Sounds of the Season
Reviewed by Laurie Williams Sowby

It wouldn’t be Christmas without music, and LDS artists contribute their share. Here’s a sampling of the latest; most are available through LDS retail outlets.

Christmas Dreams (Covenant) offers lively, fresh arrangements of traditional tunes featuring pianist Marshall McDonald, who creatively incorporates other instruments as well. Much of this one has a reverent tone, as with the piano-cello "Away in a Manger." New songs include "Christmas This Way," written by McDonald and his sister Rebecca, and orchestrated music from his film score for Christmas Oranges. An innovative arrangement combines "Carol of the Bells" with "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen," and "Ring Out, Wild Bells." A pleasant blend of traditional and new will keep the listener listening — and appreciating the musical gifts of Marshall McDonald.

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Octapella Christmas is an exceptional album by seven (not eight) exceptionally talented guys. They put a twist on the traditional with their own vocal percussion, tight harmonies, and delightful arrangements of holiday standards. "Once in Royal David’s City" and "O Holy Night" are given reverent treatment, but their upbeat pop tunes such as "Mary’s Boy Child," "Sleigh Ride," and a just plain fun "Joy to the World" will gain instant admirers. Octapella especially appeals to listeners who appreciate harmony and rhythm. (They also get the prize for the most extensive liner photos.)

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Christmas Wish (Tulip Tunes) is Lauri Carrigan’s seasonal offering. She has a pleasing voice and a mostly jazz style as she sings "Where Are You, Christmas?" "I’ll Be Home for Christmas" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." There’s a jazzy duet of "Winter Wonderland" with Alex Boye and her own song, "Make Room for Him." With James Marsden, she wrote "Christmas Tree, You and Me," a song about a loved one far from home, and she sings it here. The skimpy liner notes don’t make it clear whose arrangements are used, but the words to the two new songs are included.

The Gift (Tydal Wave Records) features Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band in some different arrangements that follow bluegrass and laid-back country styles. The title cut’s an original by Shupe, who also sings lead vocals on the Latin-flavored "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Even familiar words like "Far, Far Away"find themselves in new settings with this band. There’s an unusual banjo version of "The Christmas Song;" a percussion-laden "Little Drummer Boy;" and a violin, vocal and percussion arrangement of "What Child is This?" Bluegrass devotees will also enjoy the Rubber Band’s all-out "Merry Christmas Mayhem."

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Mary’s Lullaby (Shadow Mountain) is just what you’d expect of an album with a sleeping newborn pictured on the cover. Light, airy women’s voices and a couple of nice tenors gently sing "Christmas Songs for Bedtime." "Still, Still, Still" is sung in German by Amy Gileadi. Mikel Azpiroz on piano makes "O Little Town of Bethlehem" sound like a music box. Others singing traditional carols include Becky Williams, Marcus Bentley, Sarah Sample, Mindy Gledhill, Paul Jackson, Cherie Call, Ryan Tanner, and Debra Fotheringham. This is perfect background music for the youngest listeners.

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The Joy of Christmas (Covenant) is reflected in David Glen Hatch’s piano artistry with the likes of "Carol of the Bells," a full-bodied, orchestral "I Saw Three Ships," and an exuberant, jazzed-up "Fum, Fum, Fum." He offers an ethereal "We three Kings" and "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" and his own excellent adaptation of Liszt’s "Good Christian Men, Rejoice." But there are a few miscues in this album, too, notably an off-key toy piano on "Silent Night" and the use of singers whose presence (although they're not bad) doesn't fit with the piano album.

LDS Christmas Collection (Reach Productions) — This eclectic CD is really a sampler of 20 individual holiday albums, and it’s a good way to decide which artists’ CDs you want to own. Among the nicest selections are Kurt Bestor’s classic "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," Nancy Hanson’s country-style "All Wrapped Up," Cherie Call’s "The First Noel," and Donny Osmond’s "Mary, Did You Know?" Enoch Train offers a very non-traditional rendition of "Ding Dong Merrily on High" with folk instruments and a children’s choir, and Jon Schmidt entertains with his take on "Sussex Carol." Also featured here are pianist David Tolk; a cappella groups Eclipse, Voice Male and Octapella; Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band; vocalists Alex Boye, James Conlee, Brett Raymond, Peter Breinholt, and Jessie Clark Funk; guitarists Greg Simpson and Michael Dowdle; and pianists Paul Cardall and Matt Bachrach. Have a listen, then decide.