Customer Reviews

Christmas Rhapsody

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have often wondered why classical piano virtuosos have never recorded their own arrangements of Christmas carols. John Bayless has filled this void with an amazing recording of his own arrangements of carols. Everything he has ever put out on cd is amazing, such as his brilliant arrangements of Beatle tunes in the style of Bach to Puccini arias to West Side Story. In this recording, Bayless stays true to the original melodic material, yet displays his staggering command of the keyboard. On the one hand, his performance of "Ave Maria" is just heavenly, on the other hand, "Santa Claus is Comin to Town/Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" is an all out virtuosic blast. I highly recommend this album!

This is the holiday music I have listened to throughout the season, and it is so beautiful I cannot bear to put it away yet. I love Bayless's work at any time, and these arrangements simply take my breath away. His blending of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" with "Going Home" from the New World Symphony is particulary poignant. And his signature "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring/Amazing Grace" is seasonless and timeless. Christmas is over, but get this anyway; it's wonderful.

Christmas Rhapsody has quickly become one of our all time favorite Chistmas CDs. We love it so much that it is February 10th and we are still listening to it.

David Lanz? Jim Brickman? John Tesh? Move over guys... John Bayless has done what no others could... Taken the xmas classics to a new level of musical enjoyment! By combining the songs together, and making them so rich and full of life, this will be my favorite Christmas CD for a looooooooooong time.

I heard one of his tracks on Pandora and decided to check it out - 5 mins later I downloaded his album. I am entirely loving the album. I am a classical pianist (by serious hobby) and usually am not all that impressed by some transition-classical musicians, but his technique, arrangements, and musicianship - are superb and quite obvious.

Definitely worth the purchase.

This is my favorite new Christmas album. It is exuberant, joyful and uplifting. Yes, it's "over-the-top", but that's why I like it. It's full of energy and just plain good fun. There is only one track that doesn't quite work for me: Sweet Little Jesus Boy/Away In a Manger/What Child is This? It is intermixed with a recording of his mother singing. The problem is that the audio quality changes when the recording cuts in, which I find distracting. Love the idea of it, but the execution doesn't quite work.

Christmas has never sounded better! John Bayless does not disappoint. He takes every holiday song and makes it his own. If you need something to put you in the mood for Christmas, this CD could very well be your answer.

John Bayless is the best concert pianist in the world. This album shows his genuis. Perfect music to listen to any time of the year.
This is the best Christmas album on the market.

I first heard John Bayless on the Sirius/XM holiday pops station around Christmas time- and from then I was hooked. His style and technique is amazing, most of his songs he combines two songs into one; a "mash-up" if you will. But I can't wait to get more of his music. Positivly amazing.

Very good Christmas music with a touch of Liberace style. The song that mother sings is not very good, but the rest of the album is great.