The Christmas Collection Amy Grant

Amy Grant has been delivering great CD’s for years…especially Christmas music. Just step into a shopping mall or office elevator and you’re bound to hear a Christmas song sung by her. So it’s no surprise that her latest collection of Christmas music is simply wonderful! The smooth vocals of Grant remind me so much of the angelic voice of Karen Carpenter and just as Carpenter’s song are timeless classics so will be the original songs that Grant is singing on this project. Oh the standards are here…Jingle Bells, It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Hark the Herald Angels Sing and so on but it is her original tunes…Baby It’s Christmas, written in part by her husband Vince Gill, and I Need a Silent Night that really stand out on this project. Produced by her longtime producer Brown Bannister, Grant captures the many sides of Christmas easily. On Baby Its Christmas she sings of children finally sleeping and now it’s time for Christmas just for “you and me.” Yeah when the house is quite and you can spend time alone with you’re your spouse it is a great moment. Most of us parents know that that time only last for a moment. I Need A Silent Night features her 7 year old daughter Corrina reciting the birth of Jesus as stated in Luke a great touch to bring into focus that through all of the hustle and bustle of the holiday He is the real reason for the season. Grant shines on all the tracks making this another must have Christmas CD. Check out the project for yourself at www.amygrant.com


My Christmas WishRenee Bondi

The fact that Renee Bondi is singing at all is a miracle in itself. At the age of 29 Bondi had a full life and bright future ahead of her but all of that changed when she was paralyzed in a freak accident. Bondi fell out of her bed one night and broke her neck which caused her paralysis. She lost her ability to walk and her voice she could only talk in a whisper. Only after a vocal coach noticed how she was breathing and begin to use weights to strengthen her diaphragm muscles did Bondi get her voice back which lead to the beautiful CD I am reviewing today. Opening up with the title track, Bondi’s crystallized soprano rings out strong and clear. On the standard “What Child Is This” Bondi’s vocals are soft and pure. The Pan Flute played by Richard Mitchell adds additional warmth to the tune. When you hear Bondi on “Ave Maria” it is hard to believe that after her accident she could only whisper. She shines on this track and even with the known difficulty of the tune she manages to pull it off with ease and beauty. Yes miracles really do happen to those that believe and thank goodness for us that the miracle of the return of Bondi’s voice took place indeed. To learn more about Renee Bondi check out her website at www.reneebondi.com


A Merry Little ChristmasMatt Brouwer

Looking for a smooth jazzy Christmas project to pop in while you entertain your friends and roast chestnuts over the…then this is the CD for you. Opening up with a jazz filled rendition of the standard “A Holly Jolly Christmas” Brouwer’s soft tenor vocals sail through this tune beautifully. The piano solo from Paul English gives new meaning to twinkling the ivories. Brouwer’s silky vocals on “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” are first-rate and the wistfulness of the Charlie Brown classic “Christmastime is Here” is delivered by Brouwer with effortlessness. That tune which sings about having the good feelings of the season and how wonderful it would be if these feelings were shown all year round is a favorite of mine. Lean more about this talented singer at www.mattbrouwer.com