Customer Reviews

Christmas & Santa Fe

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

 

 

Ottmar has done it again! His first Christmas CD is my favorite and with this new CD, I have two favorites! If you are looking for a new Christmas CD, this is the CD to get. The Spanish influence in the music really warms things up just like a fireplace on a cold winters evening.

I first heard this album playing in a Washington DC bookshop around Thanksgiving time. I immediately put it on my Amazon.com wish list and received it a few days before the holiday. I wish now that I'd have purchased it in Washington, since it is the kind of album that one can play over and over and it only gets better and more interesting with each repeat. I'd never before heard of Ottmar Liebert, but now wish to investigate his other albums. The malls are filled with junked-up Christmas songs, but Liebert's arrangements of traditional favorites such as "I Saw 3 Ships" or "The Holly & The Ivy" or "Silent Night" are filled with beauty and serenity--qualities sadly missing from the way we celebrate Christmas in the year 2000. This is, indeed, not music for an elevator or a mall; it is music to be shared with a loved one in front of a roaring fire.

The first track or two may seem a bit canned and mechanized, but the CD soon yields to the most gentle and beautiful guitar renderings of some favorite Christmas songs. The gentle melodies, the beautiful guitar themes, the Latin percussion and the Mexican horns soothe your soul and remind you of the beauty of the Southwest . . . you find yourself thinking about mountains, desert, firelight, travelers, caves and mangers. . .

I don't know what some people expect but this is a beautiful cd. The percussion adds a really fun flavor and I think he's definitely spiced up some old favorites. This is by far my favorite Christmas cd. I can't stop listening to it.

This is a solid xmas disc that is neither edgy nor particularly innovative but makes up for it with beautiful accoustic guitar. This is one of those xmas albums that flows thrugh you unobtrusively, perfect music for hanging the southwest chile lights to a cozy fire! It definitely has the southwest flair. The Latin rhythms abound and are highlighted by the percussion work. The traditional songs are very familiar and with few exceptions rarely go out of bounds to unrecognizable dimensions in sound. It seems some people have complained about this disc but being a long time OL fan I can say that I was not dissapointed but rather enjoy the peace and serenity this disc invokes. By comparison "Angels and Poets" is a tad bit more on the innovative scale where he allows himself more room to improvise. The music is very soothing and has a calming effect on your soul. One of the things I like about this disc is the jazzy Latin intonations such as those heard on his holiday buleria "Greensleeves." The most traditional of xmas songs like "Hark the Angels Sing, "Silent Night" and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" stay close to the original but OL expands and improvises just enough to maintain the integrity of the original medley's without overplaying. There is a suttle beauty to these songs that lingers throughout the xmas season and beyond. It is music that can be played most anytime of the year and not seem unseasonal. I would recommend this disc to anyone who appreciates quiet music for those special moments to reflect on the beauty of the season any season. Peace on Earth and goodwill to all.

I purchased this CD knowing I'd be visiting Santa Fe in December. Thought it would set the Santa Fe Christmas mood, and it did! I'm a big Ottmar Liebert fan, and have many of his other CD's. This one was perfect! It was the only CD I listened to this entire season. Now that Christmas is past, and my Santa Fe trip is over, I'll pack it away with the Christmas decorations, knowing that each Christmas when I hear it again, it will evoke special memories of a holiday spent in a unique and beautiful place. Liebert captures the heart and soul of Christmas and Santa Fe. Listening brings peace and joy to an often too-busy season. I highly recommend this CD, even if your only trip to Santa Fe is a flight of fancy.

Ok, it may not be the best album Ottmar has ever made, but, as it's one of the few Ottmar albums I haven't got, and being Christmas, I bought it despite some poor reviews. I was surprised to find a very relaxing laid back album. I think Ottmar was aiming for exactly that effect. I don't understand the people that criticised this album as being boring. Ottmar keeps it interesting by putting his own spin on all the tracks. Even so, if you buy a Christmas album you should expect to find Christmas music on it. After all, the case does have the titles on it. So put it on Christmas morning and you may unexpectedly find yourself in such a good mood you may even look forward to Christmas lunch with extended family. Or not.

I have other CDs by artist, which are better, but this is nice for the Christmas season.

I absolutely LOVE this CD. I enjoy listening to Christmas music around the holidays-- and this is BY FAR one of my favorites.

It gives a Southwestern flair to popular Christmas tunes.
I find it to be very pleasant and lovely music.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I enjoy the music of Ottmar Liebert, but this cd is dreadful. The disc opens with a rendition of "Deck the Halls" that's slow enough for a classful of six-year-old violin students to keep up with. The over-emphasized downbeat in "I Saw Three Ships" ruins that song as well.

The problem with Christmas music sometimes is that, since we've grown up hearing these tunes, we forget to appreciate how lovely some of the melodies really are. This disc does nothing to remind us. I can't imagine any less soulful or heartfelt versions of these songs. Skip this disc and get Joe Pass: Six-String Santa instead. Six-String Santa has got to be one of the best instrumental Christmas Collections of all time. Trust me.