Imagine a party, a musical party inspired by the holiday season. A party that celebrates the universal hopes, dreams and joy animating seasonal festivals the world over - Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid al-Adha, Kwanzaa, Yule and New Year's Day. That is what brought Yo-Yo Ma together with a remarkable group of friends - some old, some new - to create SONGS OF JOY & PEACE. It is Yo-Yo's hope that everyone who listens to this album will hear a song familiar, comfortable and beloved to them as well as discover and fall in love with music that is brand new.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Elegant "Joy and Peace":
This is a beautiful addition to any Christmas collection. Great dinner music,or all day as guests come and go. Also enjoyable driving home from work!
Buy the deluxe version!:
I usually buy one Christmas CD each year, and I was happy to see that Yo Yo Ma had put together a great compilation of songs. Then, I watched the 60 minute video that accompanies the deluxe version, and I realized what a treasure this really is - these artists are the best of the best, each one working with Yo Yo to achieve a perfect recording of a favorite song of Joy and Peace. This project was clearly one of love, and we are the happy beneficiaries -- this is one to keep for many years, and to give as a... more info
Wow--I feel like Maestro Ma has given me one of the best Christmas gifts ever:
What an amazingly generous gift. To start with, this collection's 22 songs and lasts 1.3 hours at a time when we're lucky to get more than 10 songs and 40 minutes. Listing this CD as classical is somewhat of a misnomer. You've got a great mix of classical, traditional and contemporary songs here. No need to program a playlist, Yo Yo's a great DJ--just cork out the bubbly and your favorite treats and crank up the volume. The tunes are all upbeat. You'll tap your foot to more than one of them and... more info
Sour Notes:
I like Yo Yo Ma and many of the people he collaborated with on this album. However, this album suffers in so many ways, and I will just get to the point. The song choices lack cohesion. Yo Yo Ma - he can't be found on a majority of the tracks. I wanted to hear his cello soar. The arrangements were poor. I feel that that what may have hurt this album the most was the producer. The production is haphazard. There seems to be so many musicians involved that you get this cloudy effect on most of the songs. It's... more info
Tracks:
DONA NOBIS PACEM (Give Us Peace) - Yo-Yo Ma, cello
YOU COULDN'T BE CUTER - Diana Krall, piano and vocals John Clayton, bass
JOY TO THE WORLD - Dave Brubeck, piano and Matt Brubeck, cello Paquito D'Rivera, clarinet
HERE COMES THE SUN - James Taylor guitar and vocals
Improvisation on DONA NOBIS PACEM (Give Us Peace) - Edgar Meyer, bass Chris Thile, mandolin
THE WASSAIL SONG /ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT - Edgar Meyer, bass Chris Thile, mandolin
A CHRISTMAS JIG / MOUTH OF THE TOBIQUE REEL - Natalie MacMaster, fiddle
THE WEXFORD CAROL - Alison Krauss, vocals
PANXOLIÑA: A GALICIAN CAROL - Cristina Pato, bagpipes
Improvisation on DONA NOBIS PACEM (Give Us Peace) - Sérgio Assad & Odair Assad, guitar
VASSOURINHAS - Sérgio Assad & Odair Assad, guitar
Improvisation on DONA NOBIS PACEM (Give Us Peace) - Paquito D'Rivera, clarinet Alon Yavnai, piano
INVITACIÓN AL DANZÓN - Paquito D'Rivera, clarinet Alon Yavnai, piano
MY ONE AND ONLY LOVE - Joshua Redman, tenor sax
FAMILIA - The Assad Familyy
CONCORDIA - Dave Brubeck, piano Matt Brubeck, cello
