Our Review
Care for an hour of well-executed new age piano? Then Bradley Joseph is your man; his Classic Christmas delivers straight-ahead, gentle renditions of 14 holiday favorites. The music creates a comforting blanket of nostalgic piano instrumentals--these are the songs you have loved all your life, from the seriously sacred to the light-hearted secular.
Joseph's playing is measured and thoughtful, but never plodding. The listener is carried on a reassuring wave of calming carols; each swell delivers familiarity in a simple, warm framework. My favorite tracks are We Three Kings, the longest cut, and Up on the Housetop. The former is elegant in its simplicity, with just a touch of exotic flavors. The latter is a tune I learned in kindergarten; the sweet anthem rarely appears on holiday albums, and it is an innocent delight here.
This music would provide an ideal backdrop for a quiet holiday affair at home. Never intrusive, Classic Christmas is the lovely watercolor mural on the walls, filling the room with subtle holiday hues. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!
--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2008)
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From the liner notes:
All songs arranged and performed by Bradley Joseph
From the Website:
Bradley Joseph was a featured keyboardist on Yanni's "Ethnicity 2003 World Tour". Performing to over 500,000 people on the world's greatest stages, including Madison Square Garden and The Hollywood Bowl. Billboard Magazine ranked it the fourth largest tour of the year. Bradley has worked with him for over six years and is a featured keyboard player on the CD Yanni - Live At The Acropolis.
Bradley has also worked with artists under RCA, Epic, Warner Brothers, and Polygram. Additionally, he toured with Sheena Easton for five years as her co-music director and appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno". Some of Bradley's compositions and ever-popular CD, Rapture are part of Narada's line up. His release, One Deep Breath held a position in "NAV's Top 100" radio chart for over six months.
Bradley owns Robbins Island Music and has produced, performed and distributed worldwide, his own compositions including 15 CD and DVDs and numerous piano books. Recently he was named one of the "Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans" of 2004!
Bradley Joseph
Classic Christmas
Artist link
Label: Robbins Island Music
Length: 61 minutes
Genre: Piano
Release: 2008
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| Angels We Have Heard on High |
| Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem |
| O Come All Ye Faithful |
| The Wassail Song |
| Deck the Halls |
| O Christmas Tree |
| We Three Kings |
| Up on the Housetop |
| The First Noel |
| Jingle Bells |
| Away in a Manger |
| It Came Upon the Midnight Clear |
| What Child Is This? |
| We Wish You a Merry Christmas |