Our Review
Sometimes I want to hear soft, acoustic folk renditions of my holiday favorites, and sometimes I want to hear them played to the strains of moody jazz. But when it's time to rock out on Christmas Eve, I want to hear something that makes my ears itch and shake the window panes. This objective is definitely within range for Neil Zaza's One Silent Night, Volumes I and II
Armed with Timothy Bradford's lush arrangements, Zaza flashes a series of sentimental power riffs informed by fifty years electric rock. Though comparisons are at best futile, there is no mistaking that the "clean distortion" of Zaza's licks are in keeping with the distinctive sound of Queen's Brian May. And for the most part, Zaza's band evokes the classic ballad rock era, a sound I grew up with and that epitomizes rock and roll for me.
Along with Zaza, Bradford, and their rock band, the integral sound of One Silent Night is substantially enhanced and mellowed by the Chapel Orchestra (of Akron, Ohio), conducted by Fred Patterson. This serves to further soften something that is not a hard-edged sound to begin with. What emerges from this collaboration is a sound that is accessible well beyond the tastes of garden variety hard rock listeners. Fortunately, rock mavens can still turn up the volume to find their bliss.
One Silent Night's two companion volumes comprise 90 minutes of Christmas classics. They work together quite well, and probably are best experienced as a nice long set. Nevertheless, I liked the first volume quite a bit better, if only because most of its selections seemed to adapt more easily to rock treatment than those on the second volume. But opinions vary, and there is no difference in the quality of the arrangements, the musicianship, or the recordings that should lead anyone to buy one without the other.
--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2003)
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From the liner notes:
The rock band line-up for One Silent Night, Volumes I and II include: Neil Zaza, guitars; Timothy M. Bradford, keyboards, organ, orchestration; Greg Henderson, bass; Bill Cioce and Scotty Komos, drums; John "J.B." Billings, pedal steel and slide.
The Chapel Orchestra is Fred Patterson, Sandra Parker, Betsy Frasure, Sam Matthews, David Spondike, Reggie Green, Sarah Griesinger, Diane Camp, Jean Jocoy, Andy Mair, Kevan Hoff, Becca Atkins, Patti Foltz, Roberta Shall, Judy Yund, Kent Schaus, Neal Hamilton, Don Bechtel, Donna Bechtel, Thom Hans, Phyllis Hans, Victoria Deken, Ann Stere, Eric Robertson, Dan Leibundgut, David Fleming, and Gragory Matyja.
Neil Zaza and Timothy M. Bradford
One Silent Night,
Volume 2
Order from Amazon
Artist site
Genre: Rock
Release: 2002
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| Carol of the Bells |
| The Messiah Medley |
| Hark! The Herald Angels Sing |
| Joy to the World |
| Silent Night |
| Do You Hear What I Hear |
| O Tannenbaum |
| Oh, Holy Night |
| Away in the Manger |
| O Come, All Ye Faithful |
| We Three Kings |
| Jesu, the Joy of Man's Desiring |
| Panis Angelicus |
| The First Nöel |
| The Lord's Prayer |
| Little Drummer Boy |
| O Come, O Come Emmanuel |
| Angels We Have Heard On High |
| The Christmas Story |
| Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas |