Search - Michael Wolff :: Christmas Moods

The Many Moods Of Christmas

Mike King | Taunton, MA United States | 12/18/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Michael Wolff, an outstanding jazz pianist who served as the bandleader of the Arsenio Hall show, has released this wonderful Christmas CD. This may not be the album to kick your Christmas party into high gear, but it's perfect for listening to by the fireplace on a cold winter night.LET IT SNOW - Mark Isham, a great jazz trumpeter, plays the melody with his trumpet muted. In addition to Michael on piano, bassist John B. Williams and drummer Dick Berk provide tasteful backing.THE CHRISTMAS SONG - The late Warren Zevon provides vocals, backed only by Michael on the piano. Warren was very ill when he made this recording. His voice sounds deeper and weaker than normal, and he has to strain to sing the closing line, "Merry Christmas to you." This gives the song a very melancholy feeling not normally associated with it.WHAT CHILD IS THIS - Michael plays the main melody in a very jazzy style, backed by John B. Williams on bass and Roy McCurdy on drums.O CHRISTMAS TREE - Michael on piano and Mark Isham on trumpet alternate playing the main melody. The first part of the song is played stately and slow, before the bass and drums join in to kick the song into a jazzy rhythm.AVE MARIA - Warren Zevon's voice once again plumbs the depths of his deep vocal range. Michael's strong piano backing contrasts nicely with Warren's somewhat strained vocal. SILENT NIGHT - Alex Foster plays the main melody on soprano saxophone, backed by Michael on piano. It sounds very much like a jazzy Kenny G song. Whether that's good or bad depends on your opinion of Kenny G.JINGLE BELLS - Michael plays the tune in a syncopated jazz style, backed by bass and drums. It's the first upbeat song to appear on this album.HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS - Kenny Rankin provides the jazzy vocals, nicely accompanied by piano, bass and drums.THE FIRST NOEL - Michael Wolff plays a piano solo, performing the song in a subdued manner that perfectly captures the sacred mood of the subject matter.GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN - Michael, ably backed by bass and drums, plays this song in a jazzy, upbeat style. This song moves along at a crisp pace, breathing new life into an old tune.I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS - Kenny Rankin returns to provide a very emotional vocal on this song, with Michael providing subtle piano accompaniment. I find this to be the most satisfying song on the album.WHITE CHRISTMAS - It's a jazzy Michael Wolff piano solo, with some nice variations on the main melody. SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN - This Michael Wolff piano solo is performed in a boogie-woogie style, closing the album out on a strong note."