Chip Davis - Christmas Extraordinaire

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Music reviews of Christmas Extraordinaire

Music Review: Christmas Doesn't Get Any Better Than This!
Rating: 5 Stars

Being a Steamroller fan and having visted their website quite frequently, I was asked on one such an occasion to choose what Christmas carols I think should go on this album. In fact a window popped up for about a month asking for a "Vote That Counts." I chose three carols (3 was all you were allowed): Away in a Manger, White Christmas, and a Steamroller original. They didn't do an original, but they certainly did an excellant job on the first two!! (I received this album for free and in advance for participation in the song selection, not a bad deal, huh?) I was going to buy it anyway!!

The album starts out right away in the Steamroller Christmas tradition. "Hallelujah," a fast, high-energy remake of the classic Handel choral & orchestral piece gets a heaping helping of brass (trumpets, french horns, trombones, low synth brass) to get you into the "Steamroller mood." This song is my second favorite on this CD (it's a close second place with Fum, Fum, Fum in first place). *This song sounds REALLY GOOD in a high wattage sound system with a Bass Tube or high watt subwoofer!!

The second track is White Christmas, arranged quite unexpectily I might add. It sounds remotely like Christmas Lullaby from Christmas in the Aire until that eerie, yet graceful Women's Choir comes in. It's a very unique sound for this song, but wonderful just the same.

Away in a Manger, Do You Hear What I Hear, The First Noel and Some Children See Him are all arranged pretty much in the similar fashion. They start slow with very few instruments playing together and then in comes the orchestra for the chorus and finish. They are still very much enjoyable, though. The First Noel uses what I like to call "inverted melodies" during the verses. A violin and oboe both seem to criss-cross each other, which gives the song a feeling of desperation almost. To me that is a very unique sound. These songs all utilize the Rhodes Piano which has a very relaxing resonance almost like a music box. Away in Manger begins with a classical guitar being strummed to set up the intro. The giving of the melody to recorders, while being backed by the guitar is a very soothing and tranquil approach.

Let's just say that Faeries is "something else" indeed. I felt this song could have been done so much better. It doesn't last very long and it uses a simple drum beat with the same synth bass that's in Fresh Aire 8's Greek Suite songs. The melody is played on the same bell sounds that we are all familar with. What is kind of cool about this song is that Davis was able to synchronize the orchestra with the MIDI without sounding funny.

Silver Bells and Winter Wonderland both receive a light and airey feeling on Christmas Extraordinaire, much in the same way as the original recordings. But there is a Steamroller touch that can't be denied here (especially on Winter Wonderland with that low synth brass vibrating the house when you play it on your home theatre).

Fum, Fum, Fum is definately my favorite song on this album. It is exceptionally reminiscent of early Mannheim Steamroller recordings (Mere Image from Fresh Aire III, Sara's Band from Fresh Aire, and Gagliardia from Christmas in the Aire comes to mind). You original "Aire-Heads" out there are really going to like this song! I never have heard of Fum, Fum, Fum, and I'm sure I'm not going to like the original version of it.

O Tannenbaum is by far the most interesting Mannheim Steamroller piece on this album, simply because the melody is carried by a single vocalist, Johnny Mathis (who does a great job). This isn't the first time Mannheim Steamroller featured a solo vocalist, though. The Mickey Mouse Club March from M/S Meets the Mouse features a child singing the closing words of the song ("Now it's time to say good-bye..."). In fact, O Tannenbaum is arranged much in the same way. As Johnny sings "O Tannenbaum" for the last time it seems like the song is "melting away".

Auld Lang Syne on this album is exactly the same arrangement found on Chip Davis's Impressions album released in 1994 (Chip saved the MIDI file for later, haha!). This time, more sound was added to it to make it "Extraordinaire." Really the only differences are a more prevelent choral section, much more depth using the low synth brass and just generally a grander sound during the piece's chorus & conclusion.

Overall, Christmas Extraordinaire is an unforgettable album with great holiday music anyone and everyone can enjoy! Put it on at work to relieve stress, or at home while wrapping presents to make you forget how light your wallet or purse has become. Extraordinaire reminds us that Christmas is about giving and feeling the joy of making someone else happy for a change.

Description of Christmas Extraordinaire

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