Favorite Christmas Brass CD's?

vince · Post by **vince** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 3:24 pm

Hi Everyone!

German Brass's CD ''Christmas Around the World'' is one of my favorite!

Pittsburgh Symphony Brass and London Brass are also excellent CD!

Vince

scottmendoker · Post by **scottmendoker** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 8:13 pm

I THINK I can get away with this one, since I've only just joined them in August of this year and the CD was recorded in 1994........
"Philadelphia Brass Christmas" has some really outstanding trumpet playing. Lucky for me, these 2 guys are still in the group - Larry Wright and Brian Kuszyk. Another highlight is a set of carols that were arranged specifically for Philadelphia Brass by J.A.C. Redford. Grant Moore II is the tuba player and sounds great on his Miraphone 184 CC tuba.
*****
The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble's 2 Christmas recordings are still my all-time favorites. The album with choir is just spectacular.

Scott Mendoker
www.philadelphiabrass.com

Brassworks 4 · Post by **Brassworks 4** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:58 pm

BVD Press wrote:I am partial to the jazz versions of Jingle Bells and Santa Claus is Coming to Town featuring the bones and Gene!! Great playing and fun as well.

I am curious what else people are listening to in terms of Brass Xmas CD's?

Gee, Bryan, I thought maybe your favorite would be "Christmas Palette" by Brassworks 4.....

Adam C. · Post by **Adam C.** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:52 am

I'll go with the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble non-choral Christmas album.

"We Three Kings" still gives me goosebumps - that's my kind of Christmas music. Great arrangements on that album.

poomshanka · Post by **poomshanka** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:13 am

Shameless plug alert!!

I have Hollywood Trombones Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (5 copies left) and German Brass Christmas Around the World (1 copy left) available on my site:

http://www.bigbrass.com/seasonal.html

Those two are tough ones to find. I've also got some other not-so-odd titles available as well, in addition to a bunch of stuff from the German Brass (http://www.bigbrass.com/ensemble.html). One title they've released which is somewhat seasonal is "At the End of the Year!" (http://www.bigbrass.com/germanbrass11.html).

Sad thing is the German Brass lacks a stateside distributor, so I have to bring releases in directly from Germany. They certainly deserve to be heard, though!

...D

tubeast · Post by **tubeast** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 6:17 am

Favorite Christmas CD: Mnozil Brass "Zimt" (cinnamon).
As always, they feature cool arrangements of songs off the beaten track. Some are funny, some are a little weird, others just give you goosebumps, all of them are played expertly.

starting rant:
IÂ´ll rather not put a CD in my player thatÂ´ll just repeat the stuff you just canÂ´t escape from in public radio and shopping malls.
I especially detest Christmas-versions of pop-music where all they do is add this "Dring-dring-dring-a-ding" sleigh-bell chime.
End of rant

BVD Press · Post by **BVD Press** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:37 am

poomshanka wrote: Sad thing is the German Brass lacks a stateside distributor, so I have to bring releases in directly from Germany. They certainly deserve to be heard, though!

...D

I asked them about distributing and they wouldn't budge. I also believe if they would lower their prices the the CD's would be heard more often and the music would be played more often.

If you have not heard them, it is a treat to listen to their CD's and BigBrass is one of the few places you can get the CD's in the states. We all owe Dave thanks for importing them!

BVD Press · Post by **BVD Press** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:40 am

Brassworks 4 wrote:
BVD Press wrote:I am partial to the jazz versions of Jingle Bells and Santa Claus is Coming to Town featuring the bones and Gene!! Great playing and fun as well.

I am curious what else people are listening to in terms of Brass Xmas CD's?

Gee, Bryan, I thought maybe your favorite would be "Christmas Palette" by Brassworks 4.....

It is now!! The first post was two years ago and I have not had Christmas Pallette out of the CD player since! You can find the CD Connie is referring to here:

http://brassworks4.com/cds_brassworks4.html

BVD Press · Post by **BVD Press** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:31 am

If anyone is interested, I have a bunch of new Xmas Brass CD's that I have had for years that are collecting dust (literally). The cost would be $5.00 each and I would cover shipping. I really just need to clear some space!!

All are fun and have lots of titles!

1. Happy Holidays (Top Brass Quintet) - lots of these left
2. Christmas in Brass (Heritage Brass Quintet)
3. Quintmas 1 (Quinthorne)
A Mainstreet Christmas (Mainstreet Brass)

Please email me privately if you are interested: bvdpress@snet.net

Take care,

MikeMason · Post by **MikeMason** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:58 am

I'll add a new one.My favorite singer,David Phelps,formerly of the Gaither Vocal Band,now a full time solo artist,has a cd, Joy,Joy featuring the Millar Brass Ensemble.His sister is/was a trumpeter in the ensemble and I assume that's how the connection was made.He is a marvelous singer,classically trained.A musician's singer.Phrasing,tone color,good taste.Sadly,not as popular as some of the more popish Christian artists,but IMO the best tenor around.Check it out...

ZNC Dandy · Post by **ZNC Dandy** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:07 am

I'll put in my vote for the any of the PJBE Christmas albums. As well as the German Brass selection. But my all time favorite is, Stan Kenton:A Merry Christmas. By far the brassiest Christmas album I have ever heard, and its just a blast to listen to. All should check it out.

tubapress · Post by **tubapress** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:16 am

Here's one that hasn't been mentioned that is chock full of great playing:

Bay Brass: A Brass & Organ Christmas.

dtemp · Post by **dtemp** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:24 pm

"Trombones Under the Tree". Some sick playing...

dtemp · Post by **dtemp** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:25 pm

"Trombones Under the Tree". Some sick playing...

tubiker · Post by **tubiker** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:47 pm

Greetings

Its the Boston Brass Stan Kenton Christmas Carols for me - first class arrangements with some stunning playing.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stan-Kenton-Chr ... 498&sr=8-1

I see that they are down to play at the Mid West next week - oh I wish I were in Chicago

Enjoy

Andrew M

winston · Post by **winston** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 4:16 pm

bearphonium · Post by **bearphonium** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 6:43 pm

'Nuther vote for "Festival of Carols in Brass"--both LP and CD in my household. "Christmas w/ Canadian Brass (with the organ) and the London Brass are right up there as well.

davet · Post by **davet** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 8:59 pm

Christmas w/ Canadian Brass- my introcuction to this quintet. Hallelulah Chorus had been almost played off the LP before I got the cd. Wonderful with the organ.

(We're playing this arrangement of "Hark" either for prelude or postlude this Sunday.)

Dean E · Post by **Dean E** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:12 pm

Sam Pilafian, who will be at the Army Tuba Euphonium Conference, January 2008, on:

Cool Brassy Night At The North Pole; Summit Records (1998)

Personnel: (violin); David Hickman (trumpet); Thomas Bacon (French horn); Samuel Pilafian (tuba); Robert Spring (clarinet); Kate McLin (violin); Chuck Marohnic (piano); Warren L. Jones III (bass); Don Moio (drums, percussion).

1. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
2. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
3. Have Yourself A Merry LIttle Christmas
4. Silent Night
5. Christmas Song
6. Little Drummer Boy
7. What Child Is This
8. Ave Maria
9. Let It Snow
10. Jesu, Joy Of Man`s Desiring
11. O Holy Night
12. Christmas Carnival

Chuck Jackson · Post by **Chuck Jackson** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 11:57 pm

The original Stan Kenton Band Christmas Album on cd. Great brass playing AND it has Maynard Ferguson's Band playing as a bonus track, and singing. To say they were in an altered state may be the understatement of the century. Classic.

As much as I admire the Boston Brass recording, there is nothing like the sound that the Kenton band produced, the in your face trumpets (a style I sorely miss in todays "woof" infested brass waters), Dick Shearer (was there EVER a more apt name than Max Bonecutter for a trombone player), Mellophones (and IN TUNE ones at that), and Kenton's hokey "What is Christmas".

But I love all Christmas Music done on our fair instruments.

Chuck

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Favorite Christmas Brass CD's?

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