Christmas Rhapsody

I have often wondered why classical piano virtuosos have never recorded their own arrangements of Christmas carols. John Bayless has filled this void with an amazing recording of his own arrangements of carols. Everything he has ever put out on cd is amazing, such as his brilliant arrangements of Beatle tunes in the style of Bach to Puccini arias to West Side Story. In this recording, Bayless stays true to the original melodic material, yet displays his staggering command of the keyboard. On the one hand, his performance of “Ave Maria” is just heavenly, on the other hand, “Santa Claus is Comin to Town/Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” is an all out virtuosic blast. I highly recommend this album!

This is the holiday music I have listened to throughout the season, and it is so beautiful I cannot bear to put it away yet. I love Bayless’s work at any time, and these arrangements simply take my breath away. His blending of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” with “Going Home” from the New World Symphony is particulary poignant. And his signature “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring/Amazing Grace” is seasonless and timeless. Christmas is over, but get this anyway; it’s wonderful.

David Lanz? Jim Brickman? John Tesh? Move over guys… John Bayless has done what no others could… Taken the xmas classics to a new level of musical enjoyment! By combining the songs together, and making them so rich and full of life, this will be my favorite Christmas CD for a looooooooooong time.