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Mark Brine and His Herald Angel Friends are new to me. Listening to them rip through an extravagant set of original holiday songs put me in mind of Butch Hancock and his Flatlanders friends. These fellows convey that same raw vocal power, songwriting chops and quirky creativity as Butch and his gang.

My Christmas Song for You has been organized into a showcase primarily for Mark Brine. His songs are mostly interleaved between those of other performers. A guitarist and rough-hewn vocal stylist, Brine has penned a mighty set of new Christmas songs. I didn't particularly enjoy the opening cut, Mary Had A Choice, Too because I didn't really understand the song's premise. But I loved every other song he sang. One of these, Wise Men, featured a profound lyrical message, a galloping melody and vocals, and magnificent acoustic accompaniment, Linda Joseph's haunting violin in particular. This formula applies to much of the remainder of the set.

Each of the non-Brine tracks featured a different performer, and served to change the mood and broaden the stylistic potential of the entire effort. I liked the several instrumental insertions: Geoff Bartley's guitar solo on Snowfall, David Nevue's piano solo on Watching Their Flocks, Greg Szczeszek's piano solo on Medley: Hark, The Herald Angels Sings/I Wonder As I Wander, and Linda Joseph's plaintive violin on O Holy Night. Pick a song, pick a winner.

In a rare coincidence, this style of music is something I might listen to during the off-season. Having heard My Christmas Song for You, I will do my best to become more familiar with Mark Brine and His Herald Angel Friends after the first of the year.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2006)

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From the liner notes:

Cover: Santa's Porch by Thomas Wiliam Jones
Graphic Design: Keeve Brine
Mastered by Michael Collins, Commercial Refinery, Baltimore, MD From the promotional materials:

Mark Brine - A veteran of both the Cambridge folk scene and the Nashville music industry, Brine has carved out a strong reputation as an uncompromising traditionalist of the country music scene which has made him one of the "elder statesmen of Americana".

Will Travis - A Prolific songwriter, Travis is also a gifted singer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. A student of music since childhood, he currently resides in his hometown of Hampton, Virginia.

Geoff Bartley - An award-winning acoustic guitarist, he is considered to be "the spiritual godfather of the Cambridge folk scene".

David Nevue - With a piano style somewhere between Chopin and George Winston, Nevue brings melody and heart back to instrumental music. Perhaps Heartsong Review said it best when they described his music as "hauntingly romantic".

Keeve Brine - Born in Nashville, Keeve was exposed to a diverse musical background growing up. After a variety of one-offs and bands, he has just released his first solo effort, Gypsy Think Box.

Greg Szczeszek - Classically trained in both the U.S. and Great Britain, Szczeszek is the choirmaster of Sherwood Episcopal church in Cockeysville, Maryland. But his big break in music came when he was approached by Mark Brine's wife to be her piano teacher.

Linda Joseph - Linda Joseph is one of the most innovative violin players in Nashville. Classically trained, she attended the Preparatory Division of Julliard School of Music in New York City, and her talents transcend any one genre.

Larry Whinnery - Most of his early musical career was with small weekend bands. Although a large part of his early experience was with the electric guitar, over the years he switched to playing acoustic, most of which was influenced by Tom Rush.

Tom Pomposello -A protegé of Mississippi Fred MacDowell, Pomposello was a celebrated New York blues guitarist, music historian and the guru behind the classic Nickelodeon Doo-wop sound and network identities. A grammy-award winning producer, he started his own record company, Resigned Records.

Mark Brine & His Herald Angel Friends

My Christmas Song for You

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Track List