Merry Magic

Eric Reed | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 13, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: MAXJAZZ
• ASIN: B0000AYLJI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #295,198 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Merry Magic indeed, October 19, 2010

By 

Laura Whitney-Popp - See all my reviews

This review is from: Merry Magic (Audio CD)

Eric Reed's piano work is always enjoyable to listen to and this disk is no exception. This CD has some fresh approaches to some tired old tunes and I find it a refreshing disk to listen to on a cold December night. It evokes the right mood for Christmas time and makes for great listening.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointment From a Major Pianist, October 28, 2005

By 

Stephen A. Smith (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Merry Magic (Audio CD)

Eric Reed is a monster pianist. Under the right circumstances, he could record a Christmas album that would become an instant classic. This, however, is an unfortunate example of what happens when an overconfident artist tries to do everything himself.

Reed produced and arranged this album himself. Probably if he had hired an objective producer, that producer would have told him to hire an arranger. Reed's arrangements are second-rate. His version of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" has been downshifted into a parody that serves as the worst example of an annoying trend: Reed attempts to put a fresh twist on nearly every song. It's an admirable goal, but he doesn't have what it takes; and the result is like a restaurant that serves hamburgers with a knife and fork, and swordfish crumbled over salad. It just doesn't work.

I hope this isn't the last Christmas album from Eric Reed. He's one of the truly original voices of his generation; and with his gospel background and feel for the blues, there's no doubt in my mind he could record an album that would rival "A Charlie Brown Christmas." But this isn't it. He needs to hand over the reins of his next project and focus on the piano.