I have two new CD’s…  (Okay, that was a semi-quote that probably no one will get but me.  It’s a quote from The Audrey Hepburn Story of Audrey’s rehearsal of Gigi.  I really do have two new CD’s, though.)  Both of them came in the mail within about the last week.

Christmas Wonders

The first is a violin CD recorded by the daughter of a friend.  The title is Christmas Wonders, and it is beautiful!  Bethany recorded all of the parts herself (mixed in the studio), and it’s professionally recorded, with a professionally-done cover.  It sounds a lot like chamber music to me, and would make terrific “dinner music” or background music since it’s all instrumental.  I like that there aren’t any Santa songs on it.  It includes:

1. Joy to the World/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen  (BTW, did you know that this means something to the effect of “God make you mighty, gentlemen”?)
2. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
3. We Three Kings/Angels We Have Heard on High
4. Silent Night
5. Patapan
6. Away in a Manger/O Holy Night
7. Carol of the Bells
8. Hark the Herald Angels Sing/Adeste Fideles
9. Pachelbel’s Canon
10. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

There is no website or anything, so to order your own copy, you should email the violinist’s mother at hopejuiceplus-at-hotmail-dot-com (formatted properly, of course).

A Swingin’ Christmas

The second surprised me by showing up on my doorstep (assisted by FedEx).  It was sent to me by the One2One network.  I can’t remember requesting it, ‘though maybe I did, but, either way, I’m glad it’s here.  Another classy choice, it’s a Tony Bennett album, featuring the Count Basie Big Band.  The title is A Swingin’ Christmas.  It’s very different from Christmas Wonder, including a variety of “classic” Christmas and winter titles, but not Christmas hymns.  Tracks include:

1. I’ll Be Home for Christmas
2. Silver Bells
3. All I Want for Christmas is You
4. My Favorite Things
5. Christmas Time is Here
6. Winter Wonderland
7. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
8. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
9. I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (duet with Antonia Bennett)
10. The Christmas Waltz
11. O Christmas Tree

Michael was somewhat excited to see it, as one of the trombonists in the Count Basie Orchestra, Alvin Walker, is a musician he (Michael) played with in college.  So there was that whole, “Hey, I know that guy!” sense of connection.  The sound is what you’d expect from Tony Bennett and the Count Basie Orchestra – classic and somewhat jazzy.

Disclosure: The Tony Bennett CD was provided to me, free of charge, by the One2One network and Columbia Records.  I purchased Christmas Wonder myself.