Lisa Downing from Littleton Colorado is a musician with a promising answer on what makes not only a suitable gift, but a personalized one most people would enjoy receiving and a gift most likely to renew their true reason for the season Christmas spirit like her CD album did for me. Actually, when you take into consideration every aspect of purchasing the relatively inexpensive and long lasting gift of music for nearly every gift occasion, this easy to make decision translates into a logical choice.

Lisa Downing’s Solo Piano album titled Christmas for Two may be of interest to you and while there are many exceptional Christmas albums in the New Age genre along with every musical taste from popular artists, Lisa Downing truly does have a special gift herself as a top solo pianist in every sense of the word and this is precisely articulated on her Holiday music release. Plus, knowing Lisa was a youth pastor at her church in Littleton earlier in life and performed in the Christian, Folk, Pop-Rock band named Wings of Faith, you know that Lisa’s heart is in the right place.

Her lifelong commitment as a professional musician are praiseworthy too since Lisa Downing earned a university degree in music, attending both the University of Colorado at Denver and Metropolitan State College, receiving a joint specialized BA degree in Traditional and Non-Traditional Music with keyboard emphasis. Lisa is also an esteemed concert pianist having toured or performed with other renowned artists like David Lanz, Suzanne Ciani, Liz Story, and Peter Kater.

Christmas for Two on her Vision Quest Entertainment label is a Solo Piano Christmas album cordially personifying Lisa Downing’s expressive talents in several ways, plus the 12 holiday tracks are perfect in the sense they reveal traditional holiday music in her skillful expressive touch like you would hear while attending one of her highly personalized concerts.

While Christmas for Two is considered New Age / Neo Classical, I trust any label is of less regard here since every piece chosen for the album will be identifiable and appreciated by everyone like The First Noel / Joy to the World.

You will notice her Holiday release is composed with a delicate balance by the companion format where two songs are united into one like heard on All through the Night / Away in a Manger so there are actually 22 titles in all with the single song exceptions of Silent Night, Canon in D Christmas Medley, and Angels We Have Heard On High.

The traditional holiday pieces What Child Is This / We Three Kings and then O Holy Night / It Came Upon a Midnight Clear were my 2 favorites, plus I found the richness in depth and quality intonation regarding her performance on a Yamaha C7 Acoustic Piano was proficient in entirety like I had expected.

Every song on Christmas for Two is delivered with precision and Lisa’s personal creativity shines by the unique manner in which the songs were impeccably composed into one, with treble and bass notes reaching many proficient runs and chords in all ranges along the keyboard.

Christmas for Two varies from soft and contemplative at moments to spirited phrasing with majestic crescendos like her amazing version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / Carol of the Bells which give new meaning to the term Holiday music.

Now that you know I believe simply listening to Holiday music will help renew the Christmas spirit for anyone like it did for me, and where to search for Christmas Piano Solo music that brilliantly succeeds in establishing the seasonal tone, I hope to have been of some assistance today. I trust everyone will have an especially joyful Christmas this year while recognizing the greatest gift of all and true reason we celebrate the season.

Visit lisadowning.com to sample / purchase. You can also visit her CDBaby.com page or Amazon.com page and read my review of A Delicate Balance on our pages dedicated to Lisa Downing. Lisa and her husband Pete Foster own a combined talent agency and record label representing over 1200 Colorado musicians so find out more at visionquestmusic.com.

Album art courtesy NW Media. Photo courtesy Russell Smoak – The Inner Image.

This year he gives us an album called Visions of Christmas, which is a beautiful mix of originals and holiday favorites. As usual David has attention to what matters the most; melodies and the arrangement. It has a lovely live feel to it, and no one out there does the synth line better. Really! It is simply, hands-down masterful.  

The album start with a welcome trio of classics: Joy to the World, Deck the Halls and What Child is this. And with that the good ‘ol Christmas feel will for sure come. But David Arkenstone has put some interesting gifts under the tree too; Snowdance (which has a beautiful build-up and magnificent flute part), the Celtic sounding Bottom of the Punchbowl and the colorful Arabian Dance. Silent Night is the album closer, which has some excellent segments of Arkenstone’s own creation.

Visions of Christmas is simply the perfect holiday album. It is a simply irresistible mix of classics and new Arkenstone-material.

And remember, if Visions of Christmas is too much classics for your taste – Arkenstone gave us the very modern sounding A Christmas lounge two years ago - which is jazzy and upbeat at the same time. So yes, we got everything that was on the wishing list.

Sample the album here:

Here is the CD on Arkenstone’s homepage. And here is a recent review on Blogcritics.

Around Christmas it is nice to note that the CD format is still standing strong. They make beautiful gifts. But know that – in a time when playing music and mobile phones are synonyms – that it is also possible to send music gifts via email in many online music outlets (like iTunes). This is the green, plastic free way to give gifts – but then we have nothing to put under the Christmas tree…

You will find all the New Age Music Christmas offers under the tag Christmas Music.

We will start this Christmas music presentation with an excellent offer from new age music superstar Peter Kater. His 2010 music offer is 6 CDs for 50 $. The albums are:

PIANO CHRISTMAS
CALL OF LOVE
IN A DREAM
WALK IN BEAUTY
ESSENCE
COMPASSION

Read our rave review of Call of Love here. It is for sure one of this year’s finest releases.

Here is Peter Kater’s presentation of the offer on Facebook – and you’ll find it on the front page of his homepage too.

Even though many haven’t purchased their Thanksgiving turkey yet, Mannheim Steamroller delivered a sleigh-full of Christmas spirit Saturday to the Kansas capital.

“The Christmas Music of Mannheim Steamroller by Chip Davis” played to a full house Saturday night and a smaller but enthusiastic crowd at an afternoon show at the Topeka Performing Arts Center.

Read the concert review here.

Since many countries have traditions that include exchanging gifts, let me suggest  2  Christmas albums that recognize the true spiritual reason for the season, and also spark the excitement of preparing, decorating, and shopping for appropriate gifts.

Holiday High  by Mars Lasar and Cadence Spalding, is a natural beauty by the traditional songs recognized on this seasonal album.  The angelic vocals by Cadence blends into a beautiful rendition throughout, while Mars displays his innovative talents of mixing and layering, adding his special creative touch that easily sets this album apart from all others.

Holiday High is a traditional Christmas album displaying the serene musical qualities of a highly talented couple, who have earned a well respected position in the music world by their individual albums.

Christmas From Mars  is an equally beautiful traditional album with all of the extra enhancements that likewise makes another truly special gift, easily becoming the  2  most enjoyable holiday albums I can suggest for all listeners.

If you are searching for a great gift for someone, or wish to revive your own personal spirit of Christmas enjoyment this year and every year, both albums are a wonderful family edition designed for traditionalist and New Age music fans alike.

Visit marslasar.com here and sample both albums right here.

When her debut album Origins was released in April it took the new age music scene by storm. Jillian’s voice, her lyrics and the overall production of the album was like a breath of fresh air in a music genre where artists who debuted in the 70s and early 80s still play all the lead roles. The new age music scene desperately needs new talent, and here Jillian is our best hope. I must also mention Andrew Aversa (aka Zircon), who also contributed to the production.

The holiday EP opens with the 1 minute long Prelude. The ‘walking through snow’ sound, the eerie synth and Jillian’s ethereal voice is a nice build up to the second track: John Jacob Niles’ classic I Wonder as I Wander. A few months back Jillian posted a small clip from this song on her webpage without the voice layer. It was obvious to me that this would be a great version of the song, with a very interesting arrangement. Most versions of this song tend to be too sacral or too serious if you will. But the light and rolling drumbeat, which I guess is only a mixed sidestick sample, is marvelous. Jillian’s positive voice gives a new perspective to the usual melancholy of this popular Christmas carol.

The next track is What Child Is This, or Greensleeves. The arrangement is gentle and tasteful. Jillian’s breathing marks the rhythm, which is a nice effect. Both this track and the next, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, is traditional and could easily been included in any collection of Christmas music. It is a high quality production with a general appeal: you don’t have to like new age music to enjoy these tracks.

With Walking in the Air the EP takes a small break from religion. I am used to hear the song sung by a young boy in the animated film The Snowman, but Jillian does a great job. The bell synth gives the song a magical atmosphere, and the different layers of vocal intertwine beautifully.

Silent Night is a perfect album closer. Jillian’s version is long, dreamy and simply irresistible. It starts with a warm sounding synth pad and a distant piano in the background. The different layers of sound create a total listening experience, almost like listening to heavenly hosts sing Alleluia! The EP ends with 30 seconds of cozy log fire sounds.

The cover artwork is by Daniel Kvasznicza. It captures the atmosphere of the songs. Here you can see Jillian walking through a desert landscape of either sand or snow, it is hard to tell. But it sure is beautiful. A piece of art.

Through Sand and Snow is like a musical journey with traditional Christmas songs as the guiding star. At the end of the travel is the perfect Christmas spirit. The album could have been longer though, but it is not too short either. The only thing I am missing is a less sacral, happier song. But then again all real new age artists release several Christmas albums in their career. Hopefully Jillian Goldin is only at the very beginning of her musical journey.

// BT Fasmer

You can sample and buy the album on CDBaby.