Track Listing

1. Angels We Have Heard on High
2. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
3. Snowbound
4. Christmas Song
5. Ivy Variations
6. River
7. Amazing Grace
8. Christmas Time Is Here
9. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
10. Away in a Manger
11. Merry Little Stroll: Medley of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
12. Auld Lang Syne

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39913 in Music
• Released on: 1999-10-19
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Here's some soft jazz for that fireside glow at Christmas. Fourplay is pianist and arranger Bob James with guitarist Larry Carlton, drummer Harvey Mason, and bassist Nathan East (who handles limited vocal chores, as well). Carlton is the tastiest of the foursome (check his blues-tinged work on "Amazing Grace"), never overplaying or indulging his knowing chops. Snowbound's strong group effort shines as the band weaves in and out of each other's lines on "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" or as the rhythm section casts mellow, funky grooves in the path of the title track, under occasional trumpet and sax fills. The quartet delivers one other original piece, James's "The Ivy Variations," plus a naturally fluid reading of Joni Mitchell's often-overlooked song "River," taken from her five-star album Blue. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews

Awesome
These guys are phenomenal. The arrangements are interesting and inventive, and the playing is flawless. If you like Jazz XMAS music, this is one of the best since Larry Carlton's XMAS CD from a few years back.

Typical Fourplay (Excellent)
Fourplay takes Christmas music a couple steps up to a whole new level. If you love jazz style Christmas music, this is the CD for you.Every member brings out their best. If you're a Fourplay fan, you won't be disappointed.

Best Christmas CD ever recorded.
I absolutely love this CD. This is the best Christmas CD I own. In fact, it's so smooth and jazzy, you can listen to it in June. If you can appreciate Christmas classics with a jazzy twist, I strongly recommend this CD. A must have for FourPlay fans!