James Taylor at Christmas

A splendid collection of Christmas songs

James Taylor belongs to a pretty rare class of performers, those, who have never been out of fashion and probably will never be. 38 long years have passed since the time when he released his very first solo album and by the current moment he is having 40 millions albums sold and five Grammy awards. He has also been inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame and he even managed to get a diamond award for one of his albums thus enlarging his grand collection of gold, platinum and multi-platinum discs. This year James Taylor decided to release another album just on New Year's eve. And there is a reason why. His new album James Taylor at Christmas, as it comes out of its title, contains a nice list of well known Christmas songs and melodies. And when would you try to sell an album dedicated to Christmas if not in December? Actually it is not correct to say that James Taylor at Christmas is a brand new album. In fact this is a reissue of his A Christmas Album released in limited edition in 2004. A version 2006 differs from its predecessor only in slightly altered track list and wider distribution.

Besides familiar tunes the album also offers not so popular songs

Every song from 12 pieces track list represented here, including such a mega, all time hit like Jingle Bells, received a new musical coloring and sounding. This time round James Taylor has bended aside a little from his classic style and turned his head in a jazz direction. Overall the album can be characterized as pop-jazz and blues interpretation of spiritual songs. But Taylor doesn't lay emphasis on using only familiar commercial tunes, there are not so popular songs too. Besides Taylor himself one can find some guest stars here who took part in creation of this record. Natalie Cole's voice appears on flirtatious Baby, It's Cold Outside, while The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) is decorated with harmonica solos from the great virtuoso Toots Thielemans and reach strings arrangements. Chris Botti performs an atmospheric trumpet solo on Winter Wonderland. One of the most interesting compositions here is represented by a devout musical interpretation of Alfred Burt's poem Some Children See Him, where only piano and strings are used to back up Taylor's singing. The album's final track Auld Lang Syne is a Celtic folk tune which used to be sung in bygone days at a year's change. Taylor and company have made a gorgeous Celtic rock theme out of it, on which, by the way, Vinnie Colaiuta himself appears as a drummer.

James Taylor at Christmas is the best Christmas musical gift

If you like Christmas and New Year's celebrating, and you certainly like it, than you'll like this album too. If you like James Taylor, than this album also fits you. No matter how you treat it, but James Taylor at Christmas' release just comes in handy. A kind, festive mood is guaranteed, the album just won't let the negative emotions creep into your house and all the more it won't let a listener feel any disappointment for buying the album. It has everything to enjoy the music: remarkable spirit that is peculiar only to holiday songs, a new and original presentation, and a brilliant performance from the best musicians of the world. It is an old tradition to give presents on Christmas and keeping this in mind James Taylor has prepared one, a modest but very essential, which will be good not only for his fans but for everyone who is going to celebrate Christmas.