Customer Reviews

Christmas Time Is Here / Gramercy Brass

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
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This is not your typical brass Christmas recording. Not a bunch of fanfares and all out blowing throughout. This
recording is gorgeous with some up-tempo things and some very relaxing pieces as well. A particular standout is the title track with its great flugelhorn sounds. The whole thing is well paced and it is one of my favorite brass Christmas CDs (of which I have many). Buy a few tracks and I'm sure you'll be glad you did.

As a fan of brass ensembles at Christmas, I'm familiar with the Philadelphia, Canadian, London, Prince of Wales, and Solid brass ensembles. All are worthwhile, with the proviso that the Canadian Brass decline with each successive recording (the first being their best). Most of these groups play bright and often snappy arrangements, often building to climaxes at the end.

The Gramercy Brass take a somewhat different approach, a little less extroverted and more mellow and smooth than the others. Arrangements are subtle, not flashy. Their playing, however, is by no means dull; these are fine musicians.

So if you're looking more for a warm glow than visceral excitement, this ensemble creates a fine Christmas atmosphere.

Cheerful, up-tempo, classic Christmas music. Well played, interestingly arranged. A fixture in the Christmas rotation on our CD-changer!