Our Review
Lush instrumentals and classic pop vocals lift Michel Bérubé's This Christmas above the crowd. Canadian Bérubé is a cabaret singer who delivers each phrase with effortless tone and tremendous heart. Those who enjoy the stylings of Harry Connick, Jr., and Michael Bublé will find much to like here, although Bérubé's approach, at least on this album, tends to be less flirty and more earnest. He's got a great voice, and he puts it to fine use on familiar holiday standards, the last three sung in French.
My favorite three cuts are The Christmas Song, Joyeux Noël (the French version of The Christmas Song), and the The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth medley. The alternate versions of The Christmas Song do composer/singer Mel Torme proud; Bérubé has a gentle, warm delivery that conveys sweet sincerity and romance, and the sax riffs are right on. On the medley, Bérubé shares center stage with Jennifer Warnes, a tremendous pop songstress, and their duet is solid gold. When Warnes launches into Peace on Earth over Bérubé's Drummer Boy, the harmonies balance beautifully, and every bar fits like a finely-crafted tile in a gorgeous mosaic.
The title track showcases Bérubé at his most exuberant; it is upbeat and funky. Most tracks, however, are more restrained, although the artist's love for the holidays shines throughout.
In the years to come, look for Michel Bérubé to become a household word, and the word is wonderful. Let This Christmas brighten your holidays!
--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2006)
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From the liner notes:
Michel Bérubé: Lead Vocals
Jennifer Warnes: Lead Vocals (track 4)
Greg Kavanagh: Producer/Arranger
Kirill Shirokov: Arrangement and Orchestra (tracks 2,3,4,5,9,10)
Amoy Levy, Ciceal Levy, Canute Blake: Background Vocals (tracks 1,5,6,7,8,11)
Francois D'Amours: courtesy Yamaha Sax (tracks 3,5,7,8,9)
George Koller: Upright Bass (tracks 3,6,9)
Bernie Senensky: Piano (tracks 3,6,9)
Guido Basso: Flugel Horn (tracks 1,11)
Rodger and Mary: Sleigh Bells (track 8)
Bob DiSalle: Drums (track 8)
Russ Boswell: Bass (track 8)
Rob Pilch: Guitar (tracks 3,6,9)
Terry Clark: Drums (tracks 3,6,9)
Produced by Greg Kavanagh
Executive Producer: Ian Sorbie
Michel Bérubé
This Christmas
Order from CD Baby
Artist site
Label: Flashlight Productions
Length: 44 minutes
Genre: Easy Listening
Release: 2005
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| O Holy Night |
| White Christmas |
| The Christmas Song |
| The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth |
| Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas |
| What Child Is This |
| The First Noel |
| This Christmas |
| Joyeux Noel |
| Noel Blanc |
| Minuit Chretien |