Our Review
Merry Christmas and Happy New York, a Christmas card addressed both from and to the city we will never look at in quite the same way again, is everything one could want from an instrumental Christmas record: acoustically-rich and featuring all of the traditional favorites, arranged and performed with grace and bluster. Jo Davidson's affective and assertive style lends a Christmas-draws-nigh mood to these songs, particularly appropriate for listening to as The Day approaches.
I thought old pianos were supposed to be no good, but the vintage 1929 Steinway used in this recording was responsive and full of life, adding warmth and at times almost earthy resonance to Ms. Davidson's arrangements.
Her energetic play displays not only a technical mastery of the piano but also an innate ability to both evoke and express emotion. Her arrangements are unique and compelling, her program integral and well-constructed, her production sincere and minimal. This recording was enjoyable from beginning to end.
--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2002)
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From the liner notes:
An accomplished musician and songwriter, and a founding member of Urbanmuse, Jo Davidson is a recent addition to the New York City folk scene.
Merry Christmas and Happy New York features sentimental performances 17 well-known traditional Christmas carols on a vintage 1929 Steinway grand piano.
Jo Davidson
Merry Christmas and Happy New York
Artist link
Label: Fragile Tough Girl Records
Length: 56 minutes
Genre: Pop
Release: 2002
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen |
| The First Nöel |
| Away In A Manger |
| Carol Of The Bells |
| It Came Upon A Midnite Clear |
| I Saw Three Ships |
| O Christmas Tree |
| Come, O Come Emmanuel |
| O Come All Ye Faithful |
| O Little Town Of Bethlehem |
| We Three Kings |
| Hark The Herald Angels Sing |
| O Holy Night |
| Angels We Have Heard On High |
| What Child Is This |
| We Wish You A Merry Christmas |
| Auld Lang Syne |