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Our Review

One of the great benefits of this job is finding kindred spirits in holiday music. Among my greatest found friendships in this biz is with pianist and professor, Dr. Noel Lester. Over the years, I have never been more delighted than when I receive the latest issue of his Christmas collection. As in times past, this year's release, Rejoice! Another Christmas with The Lesters, is a formal affair, featuring Noel Lester and his piano, along with his wife, violinist RoseAnn Markow Lester, his daughter, vocalist (soprano) Marie Lester Loy, and son, bassist David Lester. Yes: a formal affair and a family affair!

The Lesters' music is elegantly arranged, meticulously constructed and exquisitely performed. Despite my jaded and cynical state, I found myself moved by a number of these fine selections, particularly The Shepherd, a pensive instrumental featuring Lester on solo piano. I also enjoyed the string-laden ensemble arrangement of I Wonder As I Wander, featuring Marie Lester Loy's vocals.

Alas, I move on. But come March or April, when most of my Christmas music takes its place in the museum, The Lesters Rejoice! will still grace the iPod, where it will bring yet another smile, even in the off-season.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2009)

Our Review

So much talent in one family! When the Lesters latest holiday release arrived at my door, I knew that the music would be special. It is.

First off, one small complaint. The Lester family is populated with boundlessly creative and capable musicians. My family, on the other hand, is full of rogues and dog-catchers. How did that happen? I immediately declare myself up for adoption, and request that the Lesters consider me "extended family" from now on.

Years ago, the music started with Noel Lester's superb solo piano. Then, Lester realized that he had family members perhaps as talented as he, and he decided to invite his better half (RoseAnn Lester on violin), his son David (on double bass), and his daughter Marie (soprano) to join the fun. Putting together an album like Rejoice! as a family effort must be quite the challenge--and delight. I wonder whether the Lesters listen to their own holiday releases this time of year, or whether they listen to everything BUT their own offerings.

There is much to love here. The classical fare covers an impressively broad range--over an hour of music, including 24 tracks--from the familiar to the obscure. Although the players have multiplied, the music's core still centers on Noel Lester's remarkable, sensitive, and emotive piano playing. The classical selections here are all first-rate, but I take special joy in the solo piano pieces. For example, the Nativity Scenes numbers are exquisitely rendered; the discordant Hermitage section was particularly haunting.

I also enjoy strings and voice, and the other family members have much to offer in that regard. I thought the quartet's version of I Wonder as I Wander was especially fine. Marie makes the slower sections come alive with her achingly beautiful interpretation, and wife RoseAnn's violin sings like a melancholy bird. David's double bass provides terrific, dramatic grounding. Speaking of the double bass, my favorite cut is probably the superb How Brightly Shines the Morning Star, which features Noel's flying fingers as the piano takes the lead while David's double-bass undercurrent provides rich, complementary support. Just outstanding!

On Rejoice!, the classy classical fare is all good! I thank the Lesters for thinking of ChristmasReviews.com once again with their new holiday release, and I hope to be hearing from them again next fall.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2009)

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From the liner notes:

Produced by Noel Lester
Recorded March, 2009, Brodbeck Music Hall, Hood College, Frederick, Maryland

From CD Baby notes:

The talented Lester family--Marie Lester Loy, soprano, RoseAnn Lester, violin, David Lester, double bass, and Noel Lester, piano, bring another Christmas gift in "Rejoice!" They have included some standard seasonal pieces by such masters as Bach, Pachelbel, Handel, and Mozart, and have also included some recent carol arrangements for violin/double bass/piano by Eugenie Rocherolle. A special feature of this CD are the arrangements written especially for them by composer Wayne L. Wold.

The Lesters

Rejoice! Another Christmas with The Lesters

Artist link

Track List