| 1. The First Noel 2. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (feat. Johnny Mathis) 3. This Christmas (feat. Eric Benet) 4. Do You Hear What I Hear (feat. Gloria Estefan) 5. My Grown Up Christmas List (feat. Heather Headley) 6. Another Silent Night (feat. Richard Marx) 7. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (feat. Kenny G) 8. The 25th of December (feat. BeBe Winans) 9. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (feat. India.Aire and Trombone Shorty) 10. O Holy Night (feat. Jonathan Butler) 11. Medley: O Come All Ye Faithful / Angels We Have Heard On High / Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (feat. Fantasia) 12. All You Need Is Love (feat. Eric Benet, Johnny Mathis, Heather Headley, Richard Marx, Jonathan Butler, Maysa, BeBe Winans, Gloria Estefan, and Stevie Wonder) |
Everybody's doing the guest star thing these days. Dave Koz already had 4 best selling holiday albums featuring (mostly) his Smooth Jazz instrumental sax playing. For "The 25th of December", Dave decided to do something different. He invited some friends over for a set of Christmas duets. And, when you can count Johnny Mathis, Gloria Estefan, Richard Marx and Stevie Wonder as friends, you ought to be able to put together one heck of a record. Certainly that's the hope.
The highlight of the album is said to be the guest star blow-out finale, "All You Need Is Love", featuring pretty much everybody and Stevie Wonder. But those who've heard the early working tracks also rave about "The First Noel", "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" and "Another Silent Night". And, even at 78, Johnny Mathis sings like a Christmas angel and every new holiday recording he does is instantly worthy of an add to your shuffle. Though not credited above, Dave also got support from the voices of West Angeles Church. And those folks are pretty amazing.
The working title for this project was "The Heart & Soul Of Christmas". And there is, actually, a song by that title--sung by Gregory Hines on the soundtrack of "Santa Baby", released in 2001. And it sounds like something that would fit the Dave Koz style. But that song has never appeared on any of the tracklists for what is now "The 25th of December". Still, I have to wonder if we'll be seeing an Exclusive version of the album at Target or Wal-Mart or something somewhere down the road. In the meantime, just prepare to enjoy what promises to be a smooth and festive celebration of the season.
The highlight of the album is said to be the guest star blow-out finale, "All You Need Is Love", featuring pretty much everybody and Stevie Wonder. But those who've heard the early working tracks also rave about "The First Noel", "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" and "Another Silent Night". And, even at 78, Johnny Mathis sings like a Christmas angel and every new holiday recording he does is instantly worthy of an add to your shuffle. Though not credited above, Dave also got support from the voices of West Angeles Church. And those folks are pretty amazing.
The working title for this project was "The Heart & Soul Of Christmas". And there is, actually, a song by that title--sung by Gregory Hines on the soundtrack of "Santa Baby", released in 2001. And it sounds like something that would fit the Dave Koz style. But that song has never appeared on any of the tracklists for what is now "The 25th of December". Still, I have to wonder if we'll be seeing an Exclusive version of the album at Target or Wal-Mart or something somewhere down the road. In the meantime, just prepare to enjoy what promises to be a smooth and festive celebration of the season.
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