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In My Christmas Carols, Sarah Lentz presents an intimate holiday portrait that is melancholy and moving. The CD contains seven Christmas hymns and two original pieces (the album's final two cuts). The atmosphere is sparse, as though Lentz is singing in the dark corner of a nearly empty neighborhood café, and you are mulling over an expresso at the nearest table. She is singing just for you. Her raspy, emotional alto has a raw, rustic feel and a plaintive quality; in some respects, she reminds me of a rough Joni Mitchell operating under a lower, more limited range. Since that range also happens to be my range, I had great fun singing along with Lentz throughout.

My Christmas Carols is about more than just singing. She also plays the piano, and two tracks (2 & 4) are instrumentals. Lentz's song selection is excellent and includes Joni Mitchell's fine "River," as well as an unusual, highly-personalized treatment of "I Wonder As I Wander" (which features vocals by Annie Quick). The two Lentz originals are "O Come," a very clever adaptation of "O Come All Ye Faithful," and "Away," a touching examination of the nature of faith ("Where would we be, how would we feel, if that baby wasn't real?").

Here's a nit-picky point. The CD comes in a cardboard sleeve that is largely deep gray in color. The album name and track listings are in a dark red, and to my aging eyes, the dark red disappears into the gray. Not a big deal, but it was really tough reading the track list on the album's back.

Just lovely. Sarah Lentz's My Christmas Carols is perfect for the moody, more introspective moments during the Christmas season. So spend a few quiet moments with Sarah, and reflect.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

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From the liner notes:

Piano, vocals and arrangements by Sarah Lentz
Produced and engineered by Lee Kizer III
Flugelhorn by Micah Killion
Vocals on "I Wonder" by Annie Quick

Recorded at All Angels' Church and Blue House Sound

From the Web site:

Sarah has been singing and playing and writing songs since she was a wee little one growing up in the woods of Western Pennsylvania. Right after graduating from college with a classical piano performance degree, she packed up her VW Bug and headed to Nashville to pursue her songwriting. After steeping in the alternative country scene and playing in area songwriter haunts, she headed back north and landed in New York City. Here is where Sarah found her musical home. Riding on the energy and collaborative spirit of the city she soon put together a band and recorded her first CD.

And we now present Sarah's new CD "My Christmas Carols", a pure and mellow piano and vocals recording. Produced by Lee Kizer, who added delicate instrumentation throughout, the CD includes Sarah's favorite renditions of seven Christmas hymns and carols and two original songs.

Sarah Lentz

My Christmas Carols

Artist link

Track List