Track Listing

1. Jingle Bells
2. White Christmas
3. Christmas Time Is Here
4. Good King Wenceslas
5. Toyland
6. My Grown-Up Christmas List
7. Merry Christmas Baby
8. I'll Be Home For Christmas
9. Christmas Is Coming (The Goose Is Getting Fat)
10. Winter Wonderland

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1625 in Music
• Brand: Manhattan
• Released on: 2006-10-03
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.com
These sophisticated jazz singers prove just how much their vocal versatility has always embraced pop, doo-wop, rounds, and a cappella music when the foursome explores 10 Christmas songs on a disc that previously was available only in Japan. The group transports "Jingle Bells" to the '40s in a sweeping nostalgic turn and do a knockout take on Charles Brown’s low-down "Merry Christmas Baby" that showcases how elegantly funky they can be. An Acapella Christmas balances the more sophisticated harmony singing the group is known for alongside straightforward versions of "Christmas Is Coming," "Good King Wenceslas" (complete with kid voices), and an otherwise forgettable blatant play for radio on "My Grown-Up Christmas List." But with can't-miss readings of "Christmas Time Is Here," "White Christmas," and a totally magical exploration of "Toyland," the Manhattan Transfer delivers the kind of holiday record certain to please first time listeners while satisfying longtime fans. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews

Terrific, if not too much acapella...
These are astoundingly brilliant arrangements and the group sounds amazing here. For me, however, a little acapella goes a long way. Most of these tracks here are doubled, some even tripled, and the effect is that of a large group of people singing, which sounds beautiful, but I'd rather hear just the four voices backed up by a trio when it comes to these tunes. And sometimes it's better to execute a tune by just singing it straight ahead with no funky surprise key changes, but that's me being picky. On the other hand, the production is warm, personal and joyous. It's a great companion to their previous Christmas album.

Wonderful Christmas CD
Loved every cut on this Acapella cd. Manhattan Transfer does such an amazing job keeping true to their sound as well as putting their own twist on an arrangement. Great addition to your Holiday Tune Collection.
Recently saw them in concert in Seattle and they just keep on making terrific music.
:-) Barbthechef

Great Christmas CD
This CD is *MUCH* better than their earlier "The Christmas Album". That album was way too "normal"... This one swings a lot more, but is still kinda bland. The last couple of CDs have been a little less "experimental" than some of their earlier works. "Vocalese" is still kind of the standard I judge them by. This one does not rise to that level.

I love Christmas music and if you do, too, this one is a good addition to your library of Christmas CDs.