Bennett obviously had fun recording this repertoire, as evidenced by his chuckling and mirthful delivery of "My Favorite Things" and his barely contained celebration in the coda of "Christmas In Herald Square." Giants are always acknowledged by looking backwards. It is nice to have one in our midst that we can still properly appreciate and be thankful for. Is that not the reason for the season?

Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Stephen Cleobury
Messiah
House of Classics
2011

No holiday season is complete without a new recording of Handel's Messiah and 2011 is no exception. Except that the performance of note is 20 years old and way overdue for a reissue. Stephen Cleobury and The Choir of King's College, Cambridge's Messiah, originally released on Argo in 1993, is based on Handel's 1751 version and is the only authentic conventional S(oprano)A(lto)T(enor)B(ass) performance on record. This is a crystal clear, fully realized performance of Il Sasson's masterpiece.

The band Cleobury employed was the period-instrument Brandenburg Consort under the direction of Roy Goodman. Much progress had been made since the harsh character of Christoper Hogwood's Academy of Ancient Music recording of 1980 (Archiv). Modern sonics permit the warmth of period performance to be better captured and Goodman takes full advantage of his fine group. Perfect tempi are also employed, neither too fast (McCreesh and the Gabrieli Consort, Arkhiv, 1997) or too slow (Beecham and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, RCA, 1959). Outstanding is alto Hillary Summers and her features "Behold, a Virgin Shall Conceive" and "He was Despised" are near perfect performances. If any of the myriad recordings of Messiah deserved re-issue, it is this one.

Tracks and Personnel

Christmas in July

Tracks: Giant Chestnutz/Christmas Song; Os Meninos Da Mangueira; In Notte Placida; Potpourri Da Navidad; Mary's Boy child; Petit Papa Noel; Glans Over Sjo Strand; Advent; Christmas Eve; Den Yndigste Rose; Von Himmel Hoch O Englein Kommt; Stille Nacht.

Personnel: Elisabeth Lohninger: vocals; Axel Fischbacher: guitar; Walter Fischbacher: piano; Johannes Weidemuller: bass; Ulf Stricker: drums.

A New Orleans Christmas Carol

Tracks: O Tannenbaum' The Little Drummer Boy; We Three Kings; A Child Is Born; God Rest You Merry Gentlemen; It Came Upon a Midnight Clear; O Holy Night; Winter Wonderland; Christmas Time is Here; Silent Night; O Little Town of Bethlehem; have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas; Christmas Joy; Sleigh Ride; Greensleeves; The Christmas Song; We Wish You and Merry Christmas; Winter Wonderland; Hark! the Herald Angels Sing; The Little Drummer Boy.

Personnel: Ellis Marsalis: piano; Bill Huntington, Peter Harris: bass; Jason Marsalis: drums, percussion, vibraphone; Roman Skskun: vibraphone.

In a Yuletide Groove—Harmonic Jazz for the Holidays

Tracks: Winter Wonderland; Feliz Navidad; I'll Be Home for Christmas; Frosty the Snowman; Christmastime Is Here; God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer; Home for the Holidays; We Three Kings; The Christmas Song; Let It Snow; My Favorite Things; White Christmas; O Tannenbaum; Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town; Ave Maria. .

Personnel: Chris Bauer: harmonica; Glenn McClelland: keyboards; Chris Ziemer: guitar; Matt Parrish: bass; Matt Mohn: drums; Rob Paprozzi: vocals, harmonica (15); Patty Bauer: keyboards (16).

The Classic Christmas Album

Tracks: Santa Claus is Coming to Town; My Favorite Things; Christmas Time Is Here; Deck The Halls; The First Noel; The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire); Silver Bells; Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas; O Little Town Of Bethlehem; I Love The Winter Weather; I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm; Christmas In Herald Square; I'll Be Home For Christmas; O Come All Ye Faithful; What Child Is This; Winter Wonderland; Silent Night; White Christmas.

Personnel: Tony Bennett: vocals; other musicians unidentified.

Messiah

Tracks: Messiah Parts 1, 2 & 3.

Personnel: Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Stephen Cleobury; Brandenburg Consort, Ray Goodman; Lynne Dawson: soprano; Hillary Summers: alto; John Mark Ainsley: tenor; Alastair Miles: bass; Crispian Steele Perkins: trumpet.

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