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CAUTION! Peter Mayer is a most amazing fellow, and his marvelous live holiday music performance Stars & Promises Alive comes in two formats: DVD & CD. Although the Stars & Promises Alive name is the same, the content is strikingly different. The CD has a full 13 tracks; the DVD has only 9 tracks, but includes extensive behind-the-scenes information and helpful biographical information about the artists. Both the CD and DVD are reviewed on this site (CD review).

If you know nothing about Peter Mayer, and you are interested in an adult contemporary holiday album that is essentially folk/pop (like James Taylor, for example), then skip this DVD. Don't get me wrong--it's an excellent DVD, and it features great, intimate, up-close looks at Mayer and his musicians (a much better look than you could ever get from the audience at an actual concert), but it doesn't have as many tracks as the Stars & Promises Alive CD. In addition, a lot of the additional footage would absolutely WOW the diehard Peter Mayer fan who yearns for the inside story and a behind-the-scenes look at the group as they rehearse and discuss their musical choices in doing the live performance. This revelatory approach is not really very interesting for the Mayer newbie who is just testing the waters.

That being said, the Mayer aficionado will flip over this DVD. It is extensive (almost an hour), and it has a personal feel that puts you in the same room with the Mayers (Peter & Jim) and the other talented musicians. If you have ever been so fortunate as to have attended one of Mayer's wildly popular Christmas concerts in Nashville, this DVD will serve as the perfect reminder of that magical experience, again and again!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

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From the liner notes:

Stars & Promises Alive--A Story of Christmas includes not only concert footage from the Blair School of Music, "Christmas in September" as recorded for the Stars & Promises Alive CD, but also exclusive interviews with Peter and Jim Mayer, photos from their childhood in India, behind the scenes rehearsal footage, an impromptu clip of "Lonely Broccoli" performed by Jim Mayer and Lilibeth, and thoughts about chocolate doughnuts by India Mayer.

Ring in this Christmas with a stellar group of musicians assembled by Peter Mayer and experience what brings the Stars & Promises Tour and this Story of Christmas Alive!

Features Peter Mayer on guitars and vocals, Jim Mayer on acoustic and electric basses, Roger Guth on drums, R. Scott Bryan on percussion and vocals, Mark Holland on native flute and wind instruments, Vince Varvel on guitar, a trio of string players, bell players, a girl's choir and special guest artists Mac McAnally, Tina Gullickson and Brendan Mayer.

From the Web site:

For anyone who has attended one of Peter's magical Christmas concerts, this is a reminder of that special event, which you can replay throughout the year. For those of you who haven't yet had the opportunity to witness the musical spirit of Christmas, as presented by Peter and friends, this DVD is the next best thing to being there!

Guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, Peter Mayer has been quietly and steadily building a fervent following across the country, stepping outside his role as one of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefers to front his own band, The Peter Mayer Group. Melding a unique and eclectic writing style, a distinctive voice, and virtuoso musicianship, Peter and his band create compelling and accessible music that is electrifying in live performance.

Joining Peter on stage are:

Jim Mayer, his brother, who shines on both electric and upright acoustic bass, and has played with a diversity of performers. He has co-written songs on Romeo's Garage and other collaborations with Peter, as well as with Jimmy Buffett.

Roger Guth, drummer for the likes of Jimmy Buffett, Mose Allison and James Moody, and songwriter whose songs have been performed by Vanessa Williams, Jimmy Buffett and others.

Vince Varvel, one of St. Louis' top guitar players, has been a mainstay of the band for four years and brings his brilliant sense of harmony and texture to the group.

Scott Bryan, a talented vocalist, percussionist and multi instrumentalist who comes to the band after touring, recording and songwriting with Sheryl Crow for the last five years. Scott has shared the stage with an impressive array of performers from Sting to the Rolling Stones.

Peter's life began in Tamilnadu, the far southern region of India, where his parents served as missionaries for 17 years before returning to their Missouri roots. Musical influences from that period of his life can be heard in his playing. Peter recalls, "I can remember Indian musicians giving Christmas concerts in my parents' house. Wildly playing drums and flutes, shakers and bells, they would go on for hours and hours." He went on to study formal theory and composition, and to teach jazz guitar as a faculty member of Webster University.

Peter Mayer

Stars & Promises Alive: A Story of Christmas
(DVD)

Artist site

Track List