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Christmas Rhapsody is the stuff holiday dreams are made of. This is one of the most musically complex holiday albums I have ever reviewed. You could probably listen to this album a thousand times and uncover a fresh revelation on each round.

John Bayless is an exceptional crossover artist, a classical pianist perhaps best known for his creative classical interpretations of Beatles' music in the 1980s (his albums include Bach Meets the Beatles and Bach on Abbey Road). Here, Bayless brings his intensive originality to 13 holiday numbers, a classy mix of the sacred and the secular. The results are spectacular.

These piano instrumentals are dramatic and tender all at once. Bayless provides the astounding arrangements, which transform routine carols into multi-layered treasures overflowing with undiscovered delights. The musical styles are multiple and overlapping--from classical to Broadway to jazz and back. For example, there's some ragtime honky-tonkin' going on in the early stages of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"; then, there is a very theatrical transition into "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy." In fact, medleys abound on this CD, appearing on nine of the 13 tracks. It is almost as though Bayless is exploding with so much talent that he has difficulty containing his arrangements to a single holiday number. For that reason, it is a welcome respite to have relatively simple, single carols interspersed throughout the album. In fact, after being swept up in the tornado of the first three medleys that open the disc, the artist's articulate "The Christmas Song" was just the gentle tonic I needed.

For me, the CD's most beautiful moment occurs on "Ave Maria," a song Bayless dedicated to his "dear friend Rosemary Clooney." The arrangement is priceless, the music is crystalline, and the emotion is very real.

Bayless is an astounding musician. His music makes you believe that three or more pianists must be playing simultaneously--how could one performer have so many hands? If you are looking for contemplative solo piano as gentle background music this holiday season, steer clear of Christmas Rhapsody. If you seek stimulation by an inventive piano virtuoso, then look no further.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2004)

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From the liner notes:

All songs arranged by John Bayless

"Over the last 10-15 years, I have been asked many, many times, "When are you going to do a Christmas Album?" Well, HERE IT IS!--Christmas Rhapsody!

"Growing up in the wind swept plains of West Texas and being the youngest church organist (13 years old) in the state, I had the incredible opportunity to learn and perform great sacred music. The Christmas season of course is one of the biggest musical experiences in any church and no less mine. I created every Sunday leading up to Christmas, fantasies, and medleys on all of the carols. Combining, altering, changing, mixing the different styles of Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and the late Romantic composers, improvising these beloved carols in these different styles. I chose however for this album to present these Carols in their purest form. Straight from my heart. During the time I was church organist, many different musical ideas emerged and one of the most memorable was one Sunday for the offertory. I combined "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring" and the great hymn "Amazing Grace". I put both songs together simultaneously with "Amazing Grace" played on the pedals and "Jesu" on the keyboard. This caused quite a stir, and it became my signature "Theme Song" if you will, for years to come. My feelings about Christmas and the true essence of what Christmas means is captured in this transcription. The birth of Jesus, His amazing Grace for all of us, and the promise of Everlasting Life with Him."

John Bayless

Christmas Rhapsody

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Track List