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Michael Allen Harrison is a magnificent piano-playing machine, and I mean that in the most positive way imaginable. He has created endless volumes of piano instrumentals for the holidays; in fact, earlier this season, I reviewed his superb Christmas Festival of Lights at the Grotto. Here he comes again with his newest release, Enchanted Christmas Volume Three, and it's another winner.

Just because the artist is prolific, do not assume that the works are duplicative. Harrison works with themes, and his creative and technical talents are boundless. For example, his Festival of Lights offering centers on one continuous, flowing Christmas Medley, a presentation of his annual concert at the Grotto. Every album has a different story to tell.

Here, Harrison presents the third volume of his Enchanted Christmas series; although the artist has issued over a dozen holiday albums, his original Enchanted Christmas was the first in 1993. Volume Three has a more classical bent than the others in terms of style and song selection. The focus is romantic and free-flowing, and has more than just Christmas in view, and this enhances the album's playability over a broader calendar period. The pieces include some Beethoven and Chopin; even the famous Moonlight Sonata makes an appearance.

The artist plays with emotion and confidence, yet utilizes an impressively light touch. The "enchantment" appears as a bell-like syth tone that adds a spritely bit of magic to the selections. My favorite cut is probably the opening number, Howard Blake's gorgeous Flying in the Air.

If you like instrumental piano music of the new age/classical variety, you really must take a look at Michael Allen Harrison and his impressive body of work. Prepare to be enchanted!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2007)

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From the liner notes:

All music performed, arranged and recorded by Michael Allen Harrison

Michael Allen Harrison treats us to another enchanting musical story... Enchanted Christmas Vol. 3 is a collection of original and beloved Christmas Carols, three magical arrangements of the world's most romantic classical masterpieces from Beethoven and Chopin, and Howard Blake's "Walking in the Air" (From The Snowman).

Michael Allen Harrison

Enchanted Christmas Volume Three

Artist link

Track List