Christmas time is here, and that means Christmas music is here as well. So as a public service to our readers, I would like to offer my recommendations on which of the vast abundance of Christmas albums out there are truly essential.
The Vince Guaraldi Trio, A Charlie Brown Christmas. What more could you possibly want in life? Here is Vince Guaraldi, one of the finest jazz pianists of our day, backed by Monty Budwig on bass and Colin Bailey on drums, performing all your Charlie Brown Christmas favorites, exactly as you remember them from the TV special. Crank up the fireplace, pour yourself a glass of wine (grape juice if you’re a Baptist), put on this CD, kick back in front of the fire and enjoy.
Harry Connick Jr, When My Heart Finds Christmas (1993). Harry Connick Jr. brings his trademark big band sound and New Orleans flair to the Christmas standards. Highlights of this album include a Dixieland version of “I Pray on Christmas”, a rendition of “Ave Maria” with a reflective piano solo intro, and a well-orchestrated rendition of “O Holy Night”. The 2003 sequel Harry for the Holidays is also good.
Celine Dion, These Are Special Times (1998). A solid and well-balanced Christmas collection showcasing the vocal abilities of Celine Dion. Highlights include “O Come All Ye Faithful” with the full-on choir and pipe organ, “The Prayer” featuring Andrea Bocelli, “I’m Your Angel” featuring thug extraordinaire R. Kelly, and “Feliz Navidad” featuring the entire Dion clan.
Michael W. Smith, Christmas (1988). For my money this is by far the best Christmas album ever done by a CCM artist, and goodness knows there have been an awful lot of Christmas albums done by CCM artists over the last couple of decades. Other CCM Christmas albums worthy of positive mention include the Michael W. Smith sequel Christmastime (1998), Amy Grant Home for Christmas (1992), and Point of Grace A Christmas Story (1999).
Anything by Mannheim Steamroller. Mannheim Steamroller has been a force in the world of Christmas music for the last two decades. There are now five albums for you to choose from: Christmas (1989), A Fresh Aire Christmas (1990), Christmas in the Aire (1995), Christmas Extraordinaire (2001), and Christmas Song (2007).
Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Christmas Eve and Other Stories (1996). This album tells the story, through music, of an angel who comes down to earth in search of something to represent all the good that was ever done in the name of Christmas. This album features “Christmas Eve Sarajevo” for which Trans-Siberian Orchestra is best known, a driving orchestral/rock adaptation of Carol of the Bells. I haven’t heard any of the other Trans-Siberian Orchestra albums, but I would imagine that they are good as well.
