Our Review
More than anything else, Whistling This Christmas reminds me of those old screwball comedies where there'd be a whistled song somewhere in the soundtrack, usually implying that someone who thought they were about to embark on some serious matter just looked ridiculous to everyone observing them. There's no doubt that a whistled song removes most of the gravitas from the ambient environment, particularly when it is accompanied by a jazz piano.
Whistler Sean Lomax and piano player Joey Singer do break new ground here: I don't know of another whistled holiday CD. And to be fair, only the more uptempo songs convey a comic quality. Some of the moodier sacred carols retain their expected seriousness and even achieve a certain poignancy.
Most of the 16 seasonal classics presented here are arranged as jazz standards, circa 1950. There are also a couple gospel and pop treatments. Both the whistling and piano playing are first-rate. For jazz fans and adventurous listeners, Whistling This Christmas is a rare treat.
--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2005)
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From the liner notes:
All songs performed and arranged by Sean Lomax and Joey Singer.
Sean Lomax-whistler
Joey Singer-piano
Sean Lomax and Joey Singer
Whistling This Christmas
Artist link
Label: Whistle On Records
Length: 38 minutes
Genre: Easy Listening
Release: 2004
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| O Holy Night |
| God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen |
| The First Nöel |
| Jingle Bells |
| Go Tell It On The Mountains |
| Silent Night |
| O Come All Ye Faithful |
| Joy To The World |
| Angels We Have Heard On High |
| Away In A Manger |
| O Christmas Tree |
| Deck The Halls |
| Up On The Roof Top |
| God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Traditional) |
| Hark The Herald Angels Sing |
| O Little Town Of Bethlehem |