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Our Review

Barbara Martin and Mac Walter's Tis the Season was the kind of surprise that keeps me coming back to this job year after year. Eclectic stylists, they are difficult to classify, raising the degree of difficulty when attempting to write about them. While parts of Tis the Season are identifiable only as one of many individual instances of what is now being called "americana", many of the stylings seem to be a swinging, easy listening pop. The lush arrangement of the opening number, Silver Bells, is informed by the likes of Karen Carpenter or Anne Murray. The integral sweetness of Barbara Martin's voice begs comparison to these '70s pop icons, not because she sounds like them, but because her voice conveys a pleasing warmth and richness in similar fashion.

Mac Walter's guitar style does not offer such easy comparisons. Most of the arrangements are acoustic pop, though he shows some of his swing licks (learned by way of an early collaboration with Marianne Price, according to Barbara Martin's Web site) on Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and on the understated This Christmas. Like all of the best acoustic accompanists, he creates a rich, intricate framework within which the vocalist can perform her stylings.

As a pop duo, Mac Walter and Barbara Martin provide a complete sound. Each arrangement provides everything necessary to paint the song's complete picture.

Tis the Season is a hearty stew, cooked up with a combination of well-known holiday tunes and seasoned with a collection of fresh, original songs by Martin and Walter. Of the new compositions, my favorite was the title track, Tis The Season. The chorus "Tis the Season not just the day/Driving the demons of darkness away/Raise our spirits, raising our voice/We'll summon the sun with a joyful noise" is a useful lyric to me today, even though the pitiless sun in central Texas has not yet given way to those few, brief days in January we like to call winter.

Barbara and Mac's Tis the Season was an unexpectedly bright new offering, and went a long way toward getting me fired up for the annual holiday doin's.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2005)

Our Review

Barbara Martin and Mac Walter are a magnificent folk/blues pair. Their promotional materials describe the duo as "Soulful-Swinging-Acoustic-Original," and I cannot disagree. Their "Tis the Season" is one of the finest albums I have reviewed this season. Of the 12 tracks, five are originals, and all are exciting additions to holiday repertoire. The musicianship is outstanding, and the production values are all top notch.

Barbara Martin provides the vibrant vocals; she has one of the best folk/jazz voices around. Her powerful phrasing is oh-so-natural, and her intonation bends and flexes effortlessly. Putting her personal imprimatur on every note she touches, Martin comes across as the consummate professional while remaining familiar, comfortable, and packed with homey character and charm. Her tender, largely a cappella "Something About the Snow is a superb original number that showcases Martin's vocal abilities to great effect.

Mac Walter is the guitar virtuoso; his command of the acoustic guitar is breathtaking. On "Tis the Season," he provides three excellent instrumentals ("Drummer Boy," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlement," and his original "Ballerina") that make the guitar come to life with a rare passion and beauty. How is it possible for fingers to move so fast?

This is undeniably great music. Barbara Martin and Mac Walter have put together an album that makes me glad to be alive and reviewing holiday music. Thank you, Barbara and Mac--your 'Tis the Season will brighten my holidays as a favorite offering this year and for many years to come.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

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From the liner notes:

Barbara Martin - lead vocal, rhythm guitar, piano
Mac Walter - lead guitar, backup vocal
Kathy McCabe - backup vocal on Tis the Season

Produced by Mac Walter and Barbara Martin
Recorded at Mac Walter Productions, Catonsville, MD

This Christmas, Something About The Snow, Barbara Martin, Barbara Martin Music, ©2005 (ASCAP)

Circle Of Light, Barbara Martin amd Mac Walter, Barbara Martin Music, ©2005 (ASCAP)

Tis The Season, Barbara Martin (ASCAP) and Gred Trafidlo (BMI), Songcastle Music

Ballerina, Mac Walter, ©2005 (ASCAP)

Silver Bells, Jay Livingston & Ray Evans, Paramount Music Corp.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane, EMI April Music Inc.

Let It Snow, Sammy Kahn and Jule Styne, Cahn Music Co.

Christmas Song Mel Torme and R. Wells, Edwin Morris and Co. Inc.

Photo of Barbara and Mac - Kathy McCabe

Design - Gretchen Newman

Barbara Martin and Mac Walter

Tis the Season

Order from CD Baby

Track List