Chris Heim’s Music Roundup 11.28.11

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The full list of regional concert dates from over 100 regional venues can be found in the Comprehensive Concert Listings.

This week’s Music Roundup is a special holiday edition with reviews of some of the best new holiday releases along with a rundown of holiday concerts in town and around the region.

NEW HOLIDAY RELEASES

Yes, Virginia, there are new holiday releases (and, no, not just Justin Bieber). Below is a look at a few of the more intriguing and satisfying offerings to appear this year.

Veteran conguero Brun and his Playerz offer a set of catchy Latin takes (with some soul, gospel and “slow dance” touches) of 15 holiday favorites.

I confess I pretty much stopped listening to Kate Bush after the punishment of “Wuthering Heights” (though the song was a huge hit and is still cited as a key influence on a raft of female singers who followed). But there is something quietly compelling about her new seasonal release, which is exactly the point. The album consists of seven extended, minimalist pieces with understated vocals, simple but hypnotic melodies and a collection of angels, ghosts, yetis, and snowmen - and snowflakes - that come to life. Together they form an extended other-worldly winter suite that offers a perfect accompaniment to a hushed late snowy night.

What’s Christmas without a choir? Cantus is the only full-time, artist-led vocal ensemble in the U.S. The Minnesota-based nine-man troupe is known for its innovative and eclectic repertoire and this artful collection is another fine example of that. The album ranges from familiar songs like “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Do You Hear What I Hear,” and “Carol of the Bells” to 15th c. French and 16th c. Slovenian carols, a Burgundian air and a traditional Muskogee Indian song.

This year’s addition to Putumayo’s catalog of holiday releases is Celtic Christmas. Now, if you ask me, any release with the Albion Band on it is already well ahead of the competition, but what makes this particular collection work so well is an overall unity that few compilations attain (not to mention a refreshingly cliché-free notion of “Celtic music,” harder to find since the days of Riverdance). The eleven songs here, favorites and lesser known holiday tunes, are warm, creatively presented, and rather spare acoustic numbers that make for both a consistent and a charming listening experience.

Classic rock band Chicago chose holiday favorites for their 33rd album. Their trademark horn-laden sound is put to such familiar tunes as “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “My Favorite Things,” “Jingle Bells” and eleven others. America, Bebe Winans and Steve Cropper guest. In addition, the band is doing a holiday tour (see below for a regional date) and two holiday performances that will be shown in movie theaters around the country, including locations in Lawrence, Merriam, Olathe, and Topeka.  For more information click here.

This season brought several nice jazz holiday recordings, including Geri Allen’s adventurous A Child Is Born, Marcus Robert’s solid Celebrating Christmas, a pleasant kickstarter jazz holiday set from Phil Palombi, Keith Hall and Matthew Fries called A Tri-Fi Christmas,  and singer Nicole Henry’s Set for the Season. But pride of place goes to New Orleans patriarch Ellis Marsalis whose elegant and artful approach (and occasional hint of New Orleans second line) informs every one of the 20 Christmas favorites featured here.

It’s a “hot club” Christmas as veteran jazz guitarist Doug Munro serves up a set of 15 seasonal favorites done in a swinging Django Reinhardt/gypsy jazz style. An extra little sugar plum is the presence of clarinetist Ken Peplowski.

From country to classical, with the occasional detour into jazz, violinist Mark O’Connor is something of a musical renaissance man. So no surprise, this new holiday set (a mix of new and rare previous recordings) also touches on all those musical bases with skill and quiet beauty. An impressive list of guests join O’Connor on this collection of seasonal favorites, including Jane Monheit, Renee Fleming, James Taylor, Chris Thile, Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer and Sharon Isbin. O’Connor also has a holiday concert with American String Celebration (three violins, cello, guitar, bass and vocals) at the Folly Theater in Kansas City later this month - see below for more information.

HOLIDAY CONCERTS

Here’s a rundown of local and regional holiday concerts for the season. For the full list of concerts from over 100 regional venues see our Comprehensive Concert Listings.

NOVEMBER
30: Wednesdays in Wiedemann: 2nd Annual Christmas Organ Concert with Lynne Davis - Wiedemann Recital Hall/WSU, Wichita

DECEMBER
2:  Christmas Candlelight Concert - Sebits Auditorium/Friends University, Wichita (THRU 12.4)

3: Guitars for Kids - Artichoke Sandwich Bar, Wichita

4: 49th Annual Candlelight Christmas Concert - Wiedemann Recital Hall/WSU, Wichita

5: Tuba Christmas - Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City
  49th Annual Candlelight Christmas Concert - Wiedemann Recital Hall/WSU, Wichita

7: Celtic Tenors Christmas - McCain Auditorium, Manhattan

8: Celtic Tenors Christmas - Lied Center, Lincoln

9: Celtic Tenors Christmas - Stiefel Theatre, Salina
  Chicago (Holiday Concert) - Brady Theater, Tulsa

10: Kansas City Jazz Orchestra with Kevin Mahogany Holiday Jazz Show - Liberty Hall, Lawrence
    Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
    Celtic Tenors Christmas - Lied Center, Lawrence

11: Jim Brickman Christmas Celebration - Folly Theatre, Kansas City

13: Mannheim Steamroller - McCain Auditorium, Manhattan
    Wichita Symphony Orchestra Free Spirit of the Season Holiday Concert - Century II, Wichita

14: Mannheim Steamroller - Lied Center, Lawrence

15: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Intrust Arena, Wichita

16:  Trans-Siberian Orchestra - BOK Center, Tulsa
    Christmas Festival - Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City (ALSO 12.18)

17:  16th Annual Red Dirt Christmas with Red Dirt Rangers, Mike McClure Band and No Justice - Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa
      Mark O’Connor and American String Celebration Holiday Concert - Folly Theater, Kansas City

18: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Sprint Center, Kansas City
    Kerry Strayer Big Band Christmas Show - Jardine’s, Kansas City

Details on these shows and the full list of local and regional concerts from over 100 regional venues can be found in the Comprehensive Concert Listings