Christmas Eve and Other Stories CD

Christmas Eve and Other Stories Only his fourth studio album, NOEL finds Josh Groban already tackling that canonical mainstay of the adult contemporary singer, the Christmas album. As always, NOEL is a masterfully performed set, balanced neatly between pop standards and the more operatic material that showcases Groban's roots. Interestingly, he sounds best on the most familiar holiday standards, like "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song," both of which he invests with casual, jazzy phrasing, providing a welcome disinclination for the usual Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby homages that many other young singers in the style fall into. Even this early into his career, Groban clearly has a deeply held sense of who he is as a singer and interpreter, and this lovely collection is proof that he's one of the most exciting adult contemporary stars to appear in ages. Bringing Josh Groban's majestic yet intimate voice to Christmas music is truly a gift this holiday season. The young Adult Contemporary star's fourth studio album brings together the traditional such as 'Silent Night' with the contemporary such as 'I'll Be Home For Christmas' and the new, 'Thankful'. Featuring duets with Country's Faith Hill and R&B's Brian McKnight, and inspirational music's master choir, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and produced by the illustrious David Foster the album's wide appeal promises that a timeless Christmas music classic will be beneath the tree this year. Recording information: Chartmaker Studios; EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England; Rak Studios; Westlake Audio. Directors: Bill Ives ; Kirk Franklin; Craig Jessop. Photographer: Frank Ockenfels. Unknown Contributor Role: London Symphony Orchestra. Arrangers: E. Taylor; Josh Groban; Kirk Franklin; William Ross ; Brad Dechter. Personnel: Josh Groban (piano); Dean Parks, Andy McKee (guitar); Lucia Micarelli (violin); Jochem van der Saag (programming); Richard Page (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Humberto Gatica.

Christmas Eve and Other Stories A highly original fusion of rock 'n roll, classical music, and Broadway showtunes, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA is led by the award-winning composer and producer Paul O'Neill. A 60-piece orchestra which plays symphonic rock with a concept, TSO has reached audiences of many different genres. THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS EVE, which is narrated by the actor Ossie Davis and features appearances from Jewel and Michael Crawford--is the fantastic, inspiration tale of a little runaway girl who decides to return to her family. Hosted and narrated by veteran stage actor Ossie Davis, the story underscores the power of love during the Christmas season and brings together some of the most extraordinary musical talent ever to share the stage such as Jewel, and Michael Crawford. Includes: Come All Ye Faithful, Good King Joy, Christmas Canon, Hark the Herald Angels Sin, Joy: A Holiday Collection, and O' Holy Night.

Christmas Eve and Other Stories BEETHOVEN'S LAST NIGHT is a rock opera conceived by Paul O'Neill. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra's first non-holiday-themed album, Beethoven's Last Night, incorporates some of the composer's most noted pieces with original ones that peer into Beethoven's psyche. Pieces like "What Is Eternal," "What Good This Deafness," and "Last Illusion" update Beethoven's dramatic, portentous style, while "Requiem (the Fifth)" and "Fur Elise" lend themselves surprisingly well to the orchestra's stylized fusion of classical and rock music. Fans of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's other work won't be disappointed by Beethoven's Last Night's theatrical, orchestral song cycle. ~ Heather Phares Recorded at Soundtracks, Stellar Productions & Studio 900, New York, New York. Includes liner notes by Paul O'Neill. Personnel includes: Jon Oliva (vocals, piano, keyboards, bass); Patti Russo, Jody Ashworth, Guy Lemmonnier, Jamie Torcellini, Sylvia Tosun, Zak Stevens, Dave Diamond, Doug Thoms (vocals); Paul O'Neill (acoustic & electric guitars); Dave Wittman (guitar, bass, drums); Al Pitrelli (guitar, bass); Chris Caffery (guitar); Todd Reynolds, Paul Reynolds, Paul Woodiel, Mary Rowell, Laura Seaton-Finn, Denise Stillwell (violin); Mark Wood, Mark Ferris (viola); Gary Yellin, Jonas Tauber, Dorothy Lawson (cello); Robert Kinkel (piano, keyboards); Johnny Lee Middleton (bass); Jeff Plate (drums); Danielle Landherr, Marni Elliot, Sylvia Tosun, Robert Kinkel, Christian James, Jacob Ashworth, Evan Maltby, Sebastian Perez, Caroline Ross (background vocals). Personnel: Guy Lemonnier, Doug Thoms, Jody Ashworth, Sylvia Tosun (vocals, background vocals); Jamie Torcellini, Dave Diamond, Patti Russo, Zachary Stevens (vocals); Al Pitrelli (guitar, bass guitar); Dave Wittman (guitar, drums); Chris Caffery (guitar); Paul O'Neill (acoustic guitar); Denise Stillwell, Mary L. Rowell, Todd Reynolds , Laura Seaton, Paul Woodiel (violin); Mark Ferris, Mark Wood (viola); Garo Yellin, Jonas Tauber, Dorothy Lawson (cello); Jon Oliva (piano, keyboards, bass guitar, background vocals); Robert Kinkel (piano, keyboards, background vocals); Christian James, Danielle Landherr, Marni Elliott (background vocals). Recording information: Soundtracks New York City. Arrangers: Paul O'Neill; Robert Kinkel.

Christmas Eve and Other Stories Composer and producer Paul O'Neill favors big, theatrical arrangements and booming production, often utilizing vocal choirs (both gospel and classical), orchestral instruments, and a rock/big-band ensemble to achieve maximum oomph. His compositions are a catalog of emotion-stirring styles, as he glides from piano-pounding pop ("Christmas Nights in Blue") to bouncy fusion ("Christmas Jazz") to hard-edged rock ("Christmas Jam") to chamber music ("Remember"). Traditional carols appear amongst--and sometimes within--O'Neill's exciting originals. This dual approach is used most strikingly on "For the Sake of Our Brother," on which vocalist Daryl Pediford twines a heartrending "O' Come All Ye Faithful" into an impassioned Tom Waits-like ballad about faith and trust. With THE LOST CHRISTMAS EVE, Trans-Siberian Orchestra has created another classic backdrop for celebrating the season of hope and goodwill. The great cosmic fable of THE LOST CHRISTMAS EVE posits angels on earth, snow princesses in the galaxies, and Christmas in the hearts of hardened businessmen and New York City street kids. Trans-Siberian Orchestra's prog-rock opera (the third in a trilogy of Christmas-themed concept albums) traverses time and space to tell the story of a lonely man who discovers the deeper implications of love on a dark night before that merriest of days. Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Jennifer Cella (vocals); Al Pitrelli (guitar, keyboards); Dave Wittman (guitar, bass guitar, drums); Chris Caffery, Alex Skolnick, Paul O'Neill, Angus Clark, Tristan Avakian (guitar); Amy Helm (whistle); John Clark (horns); Jon Oliva, Robert Kinkel (piano, keyboards); Jane Mangini (piano); Carmine Giglio, Mee Eun Kim (keyboards); Johnny Lee Middleton, David Z., Jeff Allegue (bass guitar); Takanori Niida, Jeff Plate, John O'Reilly (drums).

Christmas Eve and Other Stories Drabik, Shoshana Frishberg, Julia George, Jack Gibson, Nina Gottlieb, Erick Hernandez, Michelle Repella, Anton Spivack. Trans-Siberian Orchestra's second album, Christmas Attic, may not be as focused or serious as Christmas Eve, but it is just as enjoyable and maybe even more consistent, thanks to Paul O'Neill's increasingly impressive compositions and an improved musicality. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine St. Bartholomew's Church Choristers: Marilina Acosta, Brendan Burgess, Julian Includes liner notes by Paul O'Neill. Live Recording Recorded at Soundtrack, Studio 900 & Steller Productions, New York, New York. Engineers include: Dave Wittman, Robert Kinkel, Michael Shielzi. Personnel: Jody Ashworth, Joe Cerisano, Katrina Chester, Marlene Danielle, Thomas Faresse, Peggy Harley, Daryl B. Pediford (vocals); Al Pitrelli (guitar, bass, background vocals); Paul O'Neill, Chris Caffery (guitar); Jon Oliva (piano, keyboards, bass, background vocals); Robert Kinkel (piano, keyboards, background vocals); John Middleton (bass); Jeff Plate (drums); Maurice Lauchner, Timara Sanders, Zak Stevens, Doug Thoms, Yolanda Wyns (background vocals).

Christmas Eve and Other Stories NIGHT CASTLE appears just in time for the big 2009 holiday season but don't be fooled: this isn't a Christmas album, even if it's sonically indistinguishable from Trans-Siberian Orchestra's other seasonal releases, and the fact that it's been dubbed "Capra-esque" certainly brings it within the realm of the season. NIGHT CASTLE brims with all the drama, pomp, and circumstance of Trans-Siberian Orchestra's other records but channeling these traits through a newly created narrative does have the effect of hearing it in a somewhat new light, shifting the focus entirely to the band's attack, not melody. Still, there's not that much new here -- and the coda of seasonal covers, including the first sober version of "Nutrocker" ever cut, doesn't do much to break that spell. But for those already enchanted by the Orchestra, this will continue to enthrall. Recording information: Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY; Morrisound Studios, Tampa, FL; Soundtrack Studios, New York, NY; Stellar Productions Inc., New York, NY. Translator: Doctor Clement Kuehn. Arrangers: Paul ONeill ; Paul O'Neill; Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Personnel: Robert Kinkel (vocals, keyboards, background vocals); Alexa Goddard, Rob Evan, Valentina Porter, Jennifer Cella, Dina Fanai (vocals, background vocals); Jay Pierce, Bryan Hicks, Tim Hockenberry, Jeff Scott Soto (vocals); Dave Wittman (guitar, drums); Chris Caffery, Trey Tosh, Paul ONeill , Al Pitrelli, Alex Skolnick, Paul O'Neill, Angus Clark (guitar); Roddy Chong (violin, strings); Anna Phoebe, Chizuko Matsusaka, Sarah Shellman, Lowell Adams, Karen Dumke, Alison Zlotow, Caitlin Moe (strings); Jay Coble, Jay Coble, Peter Evans (trumpet); Luci Butler, Luci Butler (keyboards, background vocals); Shih Yi Chiang, Derek Wieland, Jon Oliva (keyboards); John O. Reilly, John Reilly, Jason Gianni, Jeff Plate (drums); Danielle Landherr, Zak Stevens, James Anthony Austen Lewis, Tany Ling, Abby Skoff, Steve Broderick, Bart Shatto, Kristin Lewis Gorman, Ireland Wilde ONeill, Tony Gaynor, Allison Flom, Evan Shyer, Britney Christian, Scout Xavier, Danielle Landherr, Sanya Mateyas, James Lewis, Tommy Farese, Kelly Keeling, Andrew Ross, Zachary Stevens, Steve Broderick (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Dave Wittman.