This Christmas

Christmas Traditional (Composer), James Pierpont (Composer), Leroy Anderson (Composer), Franz Xaver Gruber (Composer), Vince Guaraldi (Composer), Mykola Dmytrovich Leontovych (Composer), Jule Styne (Composer), Mel Torme (Composer), Adolphe Adam (Composer), Hugh / Blane, Ralph Martin (Composer), Donny / McKinnor, Nadine Hathaway (Composer), Imani Winds (Performer), Jason Moran (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Imani Winds, Jason Moran
• Composer: Christmas Traditional, James Pierpont, Leroy Anderson, Franz Xaver Gruber, Vince Guaraldi, et al.
• Audio CD (October 14, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Koch Int'l Classics
• ASIN: B001E442WS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,162 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Imani Winds has established itself as more than a simple wind quintet. Since 1997, the Grammy-nominated ensemble has taken a unique path, carving out a distinct presence in the classical music world with its dynamic performances, culturally poignant programming, genre-blurring collaborations, and inspirational outreach programs. With a deep commitment to commissioning new works, the group is enriching the traditional wind quintet repertoire while meaningfully bridging European, American, African and Latin American traditions.

The wide range of programs offered by Imani Winds demonstrates their mission to expand the wind quintet repertoire and diversify sources of new music. From Mendelssohn, Jean Françaix, György Ligeti, and Luciano Berio, to Astor Piazzola, Elliott Carter and John Harbison; to the unexpected ranks of Paquito D'Rivera and Wayne Shorter, Imani Winds actively seek to engage new music and new voices into the modern classical idiom. Imani members Valerie Coleman and Jeff Scott both regularly contribute to the ensemble's expanding repertoire, bringing new sounds and textures to the traditional instrumentation.

Imani Winds performs extensively with jazz icon Wayne Shorter, in tours that have taken them to jazz festivals in France, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands. Across the United States, they performed together at Carnegie Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Other important collaborations include having shared the stage with Yo-Yo Ma, bassist/trombonist Chris Brubeck of the famed Brubeck. The group's Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center residency culminated in a recital in New York's Alice Tully Hall with renowned clarinetist/saxophonist/composer Paquito D'Rivera. The ensemble has also worked with luminaries such as bandoneonist Daniel Binelli, saxophonist Steve Coleman, clarinetist David Shifrin, and pianists Gilbert Kalish and Shai Wosner.

Imani Winds enjoy frequent national exposure in all forms of media, including two features on NPR's All Things Considered, appearances on APM's Saint Paul Sunday, NPR's Performance Today and News and Notes with Ed Gordon, the Bob Edwards Show on XM Satellite Radio, BBC The World, as well as frequent coverage in major music magazines and newspapers.

Their excellence and influences have been recognized with numerous awards including the 2007 ASCAP Award, 2002 CMA/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, as well as the CMA/WQXR Award. At the 2001 Concert Artists Guild International Competition, Imani Winds was selected as the first-ever Educational Residency Ensemble, in recognition of their tremendous musical abilities and innovative programming.

Product Description

Genre: Christmas Music Media Type: Compact Disk

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderfully Different And Delightful Christmas CD, December 9, 2008

By 

Thomas D. Edwards (janesville, wi United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: This Christmas (Audio CD)

Imani Winds is an African American Wind Quintet based in New York.
The are an amazing group as comfortable with classical as jazz.
And both styles are well represented in "This Christmas."
This Christmas features special guest artists Jason Moran, pianist, James Genus, bassist, Nate Smith, drummer and Javier Diaz, percussionist. and includes brand new arrangements by Imani Winds' own Valerie Coleman and Jeff Scott.
Nearly every track is a traditional "Christmas" tune but there is nothing traditional about the arrangements.
Silent Night is a bluesy, gospel approach with a touch of Duke Ellington thrown in.
The Holly And The Ivy is simply beautiful -- no one steps on anyone and yet, you hear every instrument entirely.
It is chic to cover ChristmasTime Is Here (from the Charlie Brown cartoon). And Imani WInds do cover it. But the arrangement is light and fun and certainly their own.
Go Tell It On The Mountain features a new orleans arrangement that would make wynton marsalis proud.

This is a beautiful CD. Simple and beautiful.
It's everything the YoYo Ma CD, Songs of Joy And Peace, should've been.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Holiday Album, January 29, 2009

By 

Brian Siegel (Greenville, SC United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: This Christmas (Audio CD)

I bought myself a copy before sending one to my 85-year-old mother. We both love it. The Imani Winds are some kind of national treasure. The arrangments are fresh and fun. I listened to this album every other day for the month before Christmas and never tired of it. Don't you owe yourself (and your mother!) fresh holiday music?

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Imani Winds review, January 21, 2009

By 

Eva Laukhuf - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: This Christmas (Audio CD)

This was a Christmas present for a family member. None of the stores in my area had this item in stock. I paid extra for 2 day shipping, but it was worth it to have it by Christmas day.