Chip Davis - Christmas Extraordinaire
|
List Price: Our Price: $1.55 You Save: $11.43 (88%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Christmas Extraordinaire
Free Music Review: What to Expect, how to interpret this great work!
Hit: 5 Stars
The most controversial CD from Mannheim Steamroller, is also the most versatile. Chip is a wizard at orhestration and high tech editing tecnique. Chip on the whole abandons some of his usual signature chord progressions in this CD, as well as his
transitional/time filling passages.
Instead we hear different sounds, and much like actors fighting a stereotype, disappointment occurs.
The CD could use another typical "Big" steamroller energizing sound to make it well rounded and more marketable to existing fans.
The first Track- HALLELUJAH by baroque period composer Handel,
pulls you in and gives you what you expect. The intro is not harmonically complex, and I'm amazed at how much Chip can milk out of one chord for so many measures.
2. White Christmas by Irving Berlin-Chip was going for a very "Hollywood" sound with the women's chorus. I know, I was there. The session was long and educational, and the attention to detail at the time was exhausting, but worth it. Chip wanted live voices for some reason, and his knowledge of sound applied with his arrangement made this piece work.
3. Away in a Manger-lovely and sweet, truly capturing the tender qualities of this piece. Chip's orchestration and arrangement of this piece proves he understands the value of
an elegant, understated interpretation of this piece.
4. Faeries by the Russion composer Tchaikovsky-originally a work for ballet, Chip's fun interpretation also involves movement, (semi-dancelike)although in a sassy way with a hint of a sexy strut-like rhythm at times. The end result is one of unique humor.
5. Do You Hear What I Hear? Read the liner notes, in the style of Aaron Copland, this goes beyond imitation. Chip applies his knowledge of the composer's style brilliantly. The broad, wide open prairies come to mind, and what better place to "Hear, what I Hear".
6. The First Nowell-a traditional gorgeous piece which has many successful arrangements around....but Chip does an about face from his usual arrangement style. The bare exposed violin solo,
is huge in it's smallness. It's a piece that somehow reaches out gently and intimately, forming a very personal experience with the listener.
7. Silver Bells by Ray / Livingston, Jay Evans is a jazzy piece, which to my relief did not overuse the ringing of bells, as most arrangers do, inspired by the title. It's an acquired taste, for me especially....but I appreciate that it stands out whether good or bad...I'm still trying to decide.
8. Fum, Fum, Fum -Spanish Traditional-The surprise hit of the CD, and of their Christmas shows. Included in their spring/summer tours as well, it's a rousing clap-along piece when performed life. The first I suspect for this group. It's sassy, crisp, builds in it's energy and fun.....the precision
of the instruments is incredible on this piece.
9. Some Children See Him by Alfred S. Burt-slow arrangement,
child-like innocence, make a thought-provoking piece. While the orchestration is lovely and appropriate, I would have preferred some harmonic substitutions to make it have a slight bit of
a hauntingly gorgeous feel. Just a tad..with out crossing into the depressing. Chip could do this....
10. Winter Wonderland- by Felix Bernard....another jazzyish, unexpected style from Chip....pleasant, light, and easy on the ear...kick, back relax and enjoy.
11. O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree)-Featuring Johnny Mathis-
I didn't realize Mr. Mathis was still around until I got the call to participate in the recording session with the women's chorus. I've never been a fan of Johnny Mathis, as his scooping the note from below is jarring to me. The Male Chorus intro to this is wonderful, but the female parts are among the corniest ever. I admire Chip for sticking to his guns on this,
he certainly put his neck on the chopping block for this one.
But the attention to detail, overall precision of sound redeems this piece. It took a lot of work from the choral elements to the traveling to Mr. Mathis's neck of the woods to get this accomplished.
12. Auld Lang Syne-Robert Burns, I believe wrote this, and I love the sense of melancholy this arrangement projects. Beautifully orchestrated and interpreted, a thought provoking, personal piece.
To conclude this opinion, it is more diverse in it's styles, although most reviews want the "big" sound....most of Steamrollers Christmas CD's succeed with at least 2....I agree,
I wanted one more as well, but I'll be happy with the distinct differences that set this CD apart from the others.
Free Music Review: Mannheim does it again!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is the fourth Mannheim Steamroller album, and I thought there was a good chance they could be running out of steam by now (sorry about the pun), but if anything, this album is superior to the previous one! It starts in typical Mannheim style, with an upbeat, highly synthetic rendition of Handel's Hallelujah chorus from the Messiah-- nothing particularly new here, but there is a nice juxtaposition between Handel's actual score and Mannheim's take on it. A great opener.
"White Christmas" is next. Starting with a simplistic keyboard, but then building to a grand finale with orchestral strings and choir, this arrangement ends much better than I had anticipated.
"Away In A Manger" is one of my favorites. It's a slow, almost wistful rendition, with a flute carrying the melody over guitar arpeggios. A really great harmonization between the flute and an oboe comes in on the second verse, and once again, there's a powerful build in the arrangement on the final verse. Really well done.
"Faeries" is actually from "Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairies" (the Nutcracker.) They don't actually do a whole lot with this one, which surprised me since it seems to have such potential. It's good anyway, but I thought they might do more.
"Do You Hear What I Hear"-- A really odd, Copeland-esque arrangement which works surprisingly well, particularly in the middle of the track when the repetative bells finally drop out (they can grate on your nerves a bit at the start).
"The First Noel"-- Gets a similar treatment to "Stille Nacht" on the first album. A really moving piece played with violin, bells and keyboard.
"Silver Bells"-- this is just fun. They gave it a beat which verges on being reggae, with it's accent falling on the upbeat, yet it still manages to sound Christmassy.
"Fum Fum Fum"-- you can't not like this one! It starts out like a Renaissance piece, and then builds to this really energetic dance before finally returning to its roots. One of my favorites.
"Some Children See Him"-- A softer piece, starting with a chorale of flutes, and then joined by keyboards and oboes at the end. I'd never heard this tune before, but it grows on you very quickly.
"Winter Wonderland"-- this is the toe-tapper of the album. Sure, it's hammy, but it's a lot of fun. Great ice skating music, and I love the key change at the end.
"O Tannenbaum"-- not the best track, but it has Johnny Mathis on vocals, so I guess that's its gimick. It isn't bad, but compared to how good the other's are, it's a bit of a letdown.
"Auld Lang Syne"-- If you own Chip Davis' Impressions album, you'll recognize this (he just changed the instrumentation and added a choir here). If you aren't familiar with that album, rest assured, this is a great arrangement. It starts with a sad, nostalgic look at things that have past, and ends with a hopeful view of what is yet to come.
If you enjoy Christmas music at all, buy this! In addition to the great song arrangements, the recording quality is superb.
Free Music Review: This is great, even if not their greatest.
Hit: 5 Stars
I guess I expect a lot from Chip Davis, from Mannheim Steamroller and from American Gramaphone. I have a delightful girlfriend as a result of Sunday Morning Coffee, so my expectations are quite high with these folks. I even have to say that their prior Christmas albums were, overall, better, but not by all that much. And still, I gave this five stars. Permitted, I'll explain.I have to admit that there was a certain constant theme that seemed to prevail in the music that threatened to make it fall into the `recipe' category. Sure, it was beautiful, but the album overall lacked the surprises that the previous albums were rich with. White Christmas had a campy (does anyone still use this term?) feeling to it, but then I realized that this was the goal and somehow the kid that grew up in the fifties felt `back home' and opening that box with the matching set of cap guns and leather holsters that Roy and Hopalong would have traded their horses for.
This was good. As music, it was great. As music, so are the next several tracks; they're really great music, but they aren't surprising, and that's what Mr. Davis has addicted us to. Then came Fum Fum Fum. That was a real surprise! I loved it! It's the least Christmas track of them all and it's still delightfully holiday.
Now, O Tannenbaum would have been enough for me to give this album a superior rating. Sure, I'm a Johnny Mathis fan, but he didn't do it. To me, the song itself has always reeked with power, and never more than this rendition.
However, it was the last track that absolutely made the album worth the price (clever bunch, those steamrollers). In my childhood it was required to see and appreciate both sides of the New Year. Certainly, it is a new beginning; a time for hope, for setting new paths and expressing new hopes. It is the time for great optimism and high expectation. My grandparents also made me see it as a time for reflection on the year that has passed. It was a sad year in so many ways; a year full of necessary remembrances. I too had a friend in the World Trade Center. So many of my greats were gone like Chet Atkins and Harvey Martin and many more. I lost four personal friends this year - not a record, but still a heavy toll. What year is not? I can imagine nothing that so perfectly captures this melancholy, particularly of this year in these United States, as this rendition of Auld Lang Syne. If you're the kind of music nut I am who buys entire record sets to get one track, make this that one you do this year.
Free Music Review: Better than almost any other instrumental Christmas music.
Hit: 5 Stars
I've seen the music on this compact disc derided and despised by other reviewers, and for the life of me, I cannot figure out why.
This music is awesome. With the exception of the blue one (I don't remember the names of the albums, so I just go by the color), this is easily the best Christmas album they've put out. I recall another reviewer complain that there's too much synthesizer here. Well, I can understand that. Mannheim Steamroller isn't for everyone. But CHRISTMAS EXTRAORDINAIRE's synthesizer sound doesn't sound half as bad as the first Christmas album they put out. Even if you're not into that kind of sound, it's not that bad on this one. They have plenty of choir and other beautiful variations on the classic Christmas carols that people love so much.
One particular song is "White Christmas". This is a song which I've never enjoyed that much and usually pressed the fast-forward button every time Bing came on singing it. But when I heard Mannheim Steamroller's rendition of it, I loved it and couldn't get enough of it. I also love the fact that they included the often overlooked and very beautiful "Do You Hear What I Hear?" on this CD. That is one of my favorite Christmas carols, but I have a hard time finding it.
One of the things I love most about Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas music is that although they may change the tone of a Christmas carol or put different variations on it, they don't jazz it up or turn it into a "rock 'n' roll fest" like so many pop musicians (not to mention contemporary Christian musicians) do nowadays. For the most part they leave just how we remember it when we first heard it: peaceful and pure. It's a beautiful sound.
Free Music Review: Extraordinaire It is!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
First of all, I must say that I'm nothing short of confused by seeing so many negative reviews of this album here. The "synth" sound and electronic drums is a big part of what Mannheim Steamroller is all about, and if you really don't like this type of music, then by all means, don't buy it. If you are a Mannheim fan, what's not to like? They truly have done it again! Hallelujah opens the CD very upbeat and full of energy. Away in a Manger is delicate and beautiful, as is Do You Hear What I Hear. Faeries from The Nutcracker, is magical and delightful and I could listen to it over and over again! They've added a special "spark" to this arrangement. Fum, Fum, Fum has an old-world Renaissance sound and is remarkable. Some Children See Him has to be my very favorite piece on this collection. I had never heard this carol before, and it is another that I could listen to over and over again. The flutes are so beautiful on this song, you just have to hear it! And, I'll admit that I never have liked Auld Lang Syne, but Chip's version has me playing it! His arrangement has made it more beautiful and listenable than it has ever been.
No, I don't totally enjoy every single song on the cd, but how many cds can you say that about anyway? There are always a couple of songs that are not as strong as the others, but they really don't take anything away from the beauty of this music.
Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas in my house without Chip's cds playing in the background while presents are being opened. If you are a true Mannheim fan, you owe it to yourself to add this one to your Christmas collection.