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Our Review

I am really in the wrong generation to love easy listening music. It is the music of my father, though it is as accurate to say that talk radio was the music of my father, as he wasn't much of a music listener. Kevin Koelbl's outing, This Is Christmas Time is the kind of easy listening that wins converts. Augmented by a full orchestra, and featuring strong vocals and cool arrangements, Koelbl's renditions are fun and satisfying. I think my favorite from this set was his arrangement of Snow, performed as a duet with Heidi Godt. Their wink and nod to the original version (from the movie White Christmas) made me smile.

For easy listening fans, this is a no brainer. You will love Kevin Koelbl, if you don't already. For initiates, this is a fine little CD to introduce you to the genre as you listen to a bunch of your favorite pop Christmas tunes.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2009)

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From the liner notes:

Produced by John Bisharat and Kevin Koelbl
Arrangements by Kevin Koelbl and Matt Harris

Musicians:

Daniel Wachs: conductor
Matt Harris: piano
Ray Brinker: drums
Trey Henry: acoustic bass
Brian Kilgore: percussion
Paul Viapiano: electric and acoustic guitars
Dave Stone: electric 5 string bass on "Silent Night"
John Bisharat: acoustic 5 string bass on "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
Wayne Bergeron: trumpet, piccolo trumpet, flugelhorn
Dan Higgins: soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones and flute
Alan Kaplan: tenor and bass trombones and tuba
Bill Liston: alto, tenor and baritone saxopones
Danielle Ondarza: french horn
Songa Lee: concertmaster, violin
Sam Fisher, Joel Pargman, Tereza Stanislav, Ashoka Thiagarajan: violin
Brett Banducci, Rob Brophy: viola
John Bisharat, Timothy Loo, Elizabeth Wright: cello
John Bisharat, Dave Stone: bass
Louise Thomas: keyboards
John Bisharat: synthesizer programming and midi sequencing

Kevin Koelbl

This Is Christmas Time

Artist link

Track List