Once again, no audio from the actual upcoming Christmas record. This performance is from the "Two Strong Hearts Tour" in 2015.
She's back! Olivia Newton-John is either head over heels for the holidays or she's trying to make up for that disaster with John Travolta, but she'll be coming 'round for Christmas this year with John Farnham. If you know Farnham at all, you're either from Australia, a Christmas music obsessive or you remember the Little River Band in the years after lead vocalist Glenn Shorrock left (i.e. the years without any hits). Farnham's quite the institution in Australia, hitting the charts in assorted incarnations since 1967 or so. And he's been known to drop a frequent Christmas tune or two down the down under chimney (several turning up on the Myer/Salvation Army "Spirit of Christmas" collections). Their upcoming Christmas album is "Friends For Christmas" and follows closely on the heels of the successful and exhaustive "Two Strong Hearts Tour". I haven't seen a domestic listing for the CD as yet, so you may have to settle for the digital version or order the album as an import. Release is scheduled for November 11.
| 1. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 2. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas 3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 4. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 5. The Christmas Song 6. Winter Wonderland 7. Baby, It's Cold Outside 8. Silent Night 9. White Christmas 10. The Little Drummer Boy 11. Silver Bells 12. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing DIGITAL FROM AMAZON DIGITAL FROM iTUNES |  |
Speaking of the Myer/Salvation Army "Spirit of Christmas" collections, we've got our first look at this year's cover. This is, I believe, the 22nd year that Myer and the Salvation Army have teamed up for this Christmas album, proceeds raised going to support the work of the SA. They're usually released in conjunction with the annual parade down there (much like our Macy's Thanksgiving parade) and that's usually late November/early December. Of course, if you want the CD, you'll either have to go to Australia or keep an eye on eBay. But, in recent years, the digital version usually gets a domestic release. Too early for a track list, but we do know that some of the artists participating this year are Russell Morris, Jimy and Mahalia Barnes, Marina Prior and Mark Vincent, Justice Crew, Katie Noonan, Kate Ceberano, Lee Kernaghan, Kate Miller-Heidke and Waleed Aly and Gorgi Coghlan.
| 1. Last Christmas 2. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 3. Stille Nacht / A Child Is Born 4. Happy 5. Jingle Bells 6. My Favorite Things 7. Winter Wonderland 8. Winter's Heart 9. Leise rieselt der Schnee 10. Will You Be Home on Christmas Eve? 11. Es wird scho glei dumpa SABINA HANK WEB SITE PURCHASE DIGITAL FROM AMAZON |  |
I love Jazz. I enjoy pretty much anything. I could spend days listening to just Motown or Johnny Cash or Blues or Bubblegum. I hate to say I favor any of my children more than the others. But Jazz just...gets me. That said, I'll probably surprise you because this album only reaches me sometimes. At others, it loses me completely.
Sabina Hank is an Austrian Jazz singer/songwriter. Lord knows she's got the chops and a sweet honey-dipped voice that's nearly impossible to dislike. "Blue Notes On Christmas" was released last year overseas (or possibly 2014), but is just making its way to these shores (in digital form) this year. And it's part of a trilogy--or, at least that was the original plan. Add in Bob Mintzer, who I love, and it should be an album I was born to die for.
It's entirely a matter of personal taste, but I just didn't like the arrangement of "Last Christmas". And I really didn't like the arrangement of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". And "Winter Wonderland"? That arrangement is, well, "bleak" is the kindest word I can think of. I listen to those three and I wonder if there's any hope for world peace, after all.
Now, the originals are great, I think. "Happy", "Winter's Heart", "Will You Be Home On Christmas Eve"--I love those. But its hard to cuddle up to a record that takes you from love to hate and back again. As I say, its strictly a personal taste issue. The singing, the playing, the quality of the recording...it's all exceptional. So I leave it to you to make your own call on "Blue Notes On Christmas (Vol. 1)". Me, I'll be dining a la carte. The digital arrives at Amazon November 11.
Sabina Hank is an Austrian Jazz singer/songwriter. Lord knows she's got the chops and a sweet honey-dipped voice that's nearly impossible to dislike. "Blue Notes On Christmas" was released last year overseas (or possibly 2014), but is just making its way to these shores (in digital form) this year. And it's part of a trilogy--or, at least that was the original plan. Add in Bob Mintzer, who I love, and it should be an album I was born to die for.
It's entirely a matter of personal taste, but I just didn't like the arrangement of "Last Christmas". And I really didn't like the arrangement of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". And "Winter Wonderland"? That arrangement is, well, "bleak" is the kindest word I can think of. I listen to those three and I wonder if there's any hope for world peace, after all.
Now, the originals are great, I think. "Happy", "Winter's Heart", "Will You Be Home On Christmas Eve"--I love those. But its hard to cuddle up to a record that takes you from love to hate and back again. As I say, its strictly a personal taste issue. The singing, the playing, the quality of the recording...it's all exceptional. So I leave it to you to make your own call on "Blue Notes On Christmas (Vol. 1)". Me, I'll be dining a la carte. The digital arrives at Amazon November 11.
Garth Hewitt is a British Christian Folk singer. And by Folk singer, I mean in the grand tradition of protest singers like Pete Seeger. These days, Folk is used to describe just about anything acoustic (and sometimes not even). But Garth is Old School. And that's why I dig it. Aren't a lot of the old protest singers left. We needed some new ones. And is their anything more Old School than singing for "Peace At Christmas"? Garth's web site says the record is "Now Available" and that notice just went up in the last day or so, so I'm marking it down as an October 14 release. Check the song samples at the Gingerdog link below.
 | 1. Peace At Christmas 2. In The Bleak Midwinter 3. Making Holy Dreams Come True 4. Child of Christmas 5. Candle Of Hope 6. Bethlehem Is Calling 7. Don't Blame God For Christmas 8. Little Boy Down 9. Nothing But A Child 10. Shine On 11. Silent Night 12. Prayer For Christmas Eve 13. One Of Us 14. Light A Candle In The Darkness GARTH HEWITT WEB SITE PURCHASE CD FROM GARTH HEWITT DIGITAL VERSION FROM GINGERDOG |
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