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LORI ANDREWS: A Jazz Harp Christmas
Lori Andrews: A Jazz Harp Christmas

New Age Christmas Radio Closes For The Season on January 4

It always seems as if the Christmas holiday season passes by too quickly every year.  Yet, I feel as if an entire year’s-worth of family get-togethers, shopping, travel, food and the like are all crammed into the few weeks spanning Thanksgiving and Christmas.  And despite all of the challenges our world faces these days, I think most of you would agree that this season was a reasonably happy one.

I am grateful that you once again chose to share this holiday season with me here on New Age Christmas Radio.  The server we purchased for this year’s broadcast peaked at 121 listeners on December 18, the most ever to listen to this broadcast since it began in 2002 (read more about the history of New Age Christmas Radio here).

To help to pay for that new server, I asked you to donate to our tip jar, and I sincerely appreciate those of you who took the time to do so.  It is nice to know there are others who truly value this service as much as I enjoy providing it.

New Age Christmas Radio will cease broadcasting for this season at midnight on Sunday, January 4.  At that time, we will begin a simulcast of our sister station, KC Cafe Radio.  I hope this year’s program was a blessing to you.

Here’s wishing you “all the best”  this holiday season!  May the new year bring you all the peace and happiness you seek.

Happy Holidays!

John

Happy Holidays!

December 25, 2008

As I write this, I am looking outside the back window of my parents home enjoying the same scene depicted in the photograph at the top of this page.  We just had about two inches of snowfall overnight, just enough to put an absolutely beautiful touch on the scenery for this Christmas morning.

This holiday season has been a very interesting one for New Age Christmas radio, and it has been a pleasure to once again bring you this gift of uniquely relaxing holiday music.  For those of you who took the extra step of donating to our tip jar to help support this effort, thank you for doing your part to make this unique listening experience possible.  It’s not too late though, to contribute for this season, or to help ensure that I can make the necessary bandwidth purchases to bring New Age Christmas Radio back again next season.  If you’ve been a regular listener this season, please consider making a $10 donation for the season here.

And, please don’t forget to leave a note in my Guestbook here.  Let me know where you’re from, and a little bit about what’s going on in your world while you listen!

I hope that the music has been a blessing to you again this year, and that you find all your hopes and desires for the new year coming true.

Happy Holidays!

John

So… Who’s That Voice?

TERI WILDER: I Choose JoyIf you have been listening to New Age Christmas Radio for any extended length of time, you have no doubt heard the beautiful voice of Teri Wilder.  She’s the one you hear on New Age Christmas Radio wishing you “happy holidays” and inviting you to visit this website.  I am truly blessed to know Teri, not only as a friend, but also as a colleague in the broadcast industry.

What you may not know about Teri is that she is also a very talented musician, and has just recently released a brand new album, I Choose Joy.  Like Teri herself, I Choose Joy is an exploration in pure positivity, something we desperately need in these difficult times.

Teri wastes no time expressing her positive vibes on this album, placing the title track right up-front, and it only gets better from there!  All in all, I Choose Joy is an introspective look into a fine person and talented musician, without ever missing a beat!

While the music on this album isn’t necessarily appropriate for airplay on New Age Christmas Radio, you will find I Choose Joy to be a musical experience worthy of play in your world – over and over again!  Listen to music samples and purchase I Choose Joy here .

Also From Teri Wilder:

TERI WILDER: Teri Wilder

Windham Hill & The Birth of New Age Christmas Radio

If you’ve already read the story of New Age Christmas Radio then you’re aware this whole thing was really an accident – an experiment that became a holiday tradition.  What I haven’t expounded on, at least up to this point, is the music library I chose to use for that experiment.

My taste in music has always focused on unique sounds rather than just the lyrics.  Most of my collection focuses on instrumental music, specifically avoiding stuff that contains vocal.  For whatever reason, I generally find vocals distracting and taking away from the music itself.  Not that there isn’t a place for vocals in music.  But I’ve always felt that a good instrumental can speak as loudly as the lyric – and when done correctly, can tell a story just as clearly and effectively, and is the mark of a truly talented musician.

My first “exposure” to Windham Hill music was sort of an impulse purchase of A Winter’s Solstice.  I was intrigued by the simplicity of the cover photograph, and that was enough for me to “take a chance” on what would become (and still is) one of my all-time favorite holiday albums.

What makes the Winter Solstice series unique is the fact that the musicians featured convey the spirit of the holiday season, without regurgitating the all-too-familiar Christmas songs that we hear over-and-over.  While later releases in the series did include more familiar Christmas songs, there was still enough original content to make them worthwhile.

Unfortunately, Windham Hill recordings no longer exists today, although there are still enough copies in circulation, on CD, as MP3 downloads, and even some still on cassette tape and vinyl disc, that you can continue to enjoy this unique collection of music.

For your convenience, I present a collection from the Winter Solstice Series, as well as other holiday recordings from the Windham Hill label below.


Holiday Music From A Jazz Harpist!

LORI ANDREWS: A Jazz Harp ChristmasIt doesn’t take much listening to New Age Christmas Radio to encounter music performed on the harp.  It is one of my favorite musical instruments, and is perfectly fitting for the holiday season.  I am also a big fan of Smooth Jazz music, and listen regularly to several online stations that play the format.

What hit my ears a few months ago while listening to Smooth Jazz Dot Com however, took me completely by surprise!  Music by a jazz harpist! Never had I heard such a heavenly sound presented in such a modern, and unique way.  It sent me on an online quest to learn as much as I could about Lori Andrews.

What I discovered was an excellent collection of Jazz Harp recordings by Andrews, some of which I am still looking forward to adding to my collection.  One recording, however, immediately stood out to me as an excellent choice to share with you this season on New Age Christmas Radio.

Jazz Harp Christmas is a completely new twist on all of your favorite holiday songs, played in a way only Lori Andrews can!  It is a collection of 12 solo pieces, performed in a variety of styles.  Lori’s “jazz roots” are evident right from the start on “Jingle Bell Rock,” and carries on in “Santa Baby,” “Frosty the Snowman,” and the fast-paced “Jingle Bells / Sleigh Ride.”  However, Lori also lets the more relaxing side of her talent shine on “Winter Wonderland,” and “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.”  And even more solemn selections, such as “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and “What Child Is This” are treated with the respect they deserve by this uniquely talented musician.

I encourage you not to let your exploration of Lori’s music end with this album, however!  All of her albums offer a variety of moods and sounds sure to please anyone who is searching for a unique new listening experience year-round.  Listen to samples of Jazz Harp Christmas here.

New Holiday Music From David Arkenstone

If you have been listening to New Age Christmas Radio over the past several years, you are well-aware of the mostly solo-type performances I like to play.  Generally, the more simplistic the sound, the greater likelihood it ends up on the station.  David Arkenstone has been a significant part of that sound since the beginning.  So, it was almost a knee-jerk reaction when I decided to add Christmas Lounge to this year’s playlist.  What I found upon auditioning this album, however, was nothing short of surprise!

This is a totally different sound for David, and for New Age Christmas Radio!  Flowing senthesizer soundscapes that is trademark Arkenstone is replaced with rhythmic, nonchalant medium to up-tempo renditions of popular holiday tunes.  Many people might easily call this “chill” music, and Christmas Lounge definitely fills this niche.  As the title suggests, Arkenstone considers the music here akin to the “bachelor pad-style” music of the 50s and 60s, and any fan of “lounge” music should find this album a welcome addition to their collection.

Arkenstone immediately sets the tone for Christmas Lounge with the first cut, “Sleigh Ride,” presenting a carefree sound complete with the sleigh bells, all in perfect tempo.  That same sound of holiday merriment continues onward through “Deck The Halls,” and “Jingle Bells,” that is reminiscent  of a blues club tune.

Even the more “serious” tunes on this album are tastefully presented, without sacrificing the “lounge” atmosphere.  Classics such as “Do You Hear What I Hear,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” and even the most sacred “Silent Night” is given a unique, yet peaceful sound, and is a fitting conclusion to this unique collection of holiday music.

There always seems to be an entire crop of “unique-sounding” ablums that come out only during the holiday season, and sometimes it can be difficult to choose.  Most of the time I end up buying them all, but only end up listening to a few on an ongoing basis.  Christmas Lounge is one of those albums.  It’s perfect as music for entertaining, or listening on your own – at home, in the car, or at the office.  I would even dare to predict this is an album you will not only want to play over and over again this holiday season, but will return to again for many seasons to come.

One “technical note” here.  You have probably noticed that the Amazon links associated with the above song titles don’t match the title inside the article content.  That’s because Amazon mis-labeled the title of the tracks on this album.  I choose to link to the proper song track, rather than the title, so that in case you decide to purchase that song, you will get the correct one.  Better yet, just purchase the entire album download.  You’ll need to rename the tracks on your computer once you do.  But it is well worth the effort!  You can hear samples of Christmas Lounge here.

Ken Elkinson’s First Holiday Album – “Generations Of Yuletide”

When I received my first “guestbook” message from Ken Elkinson earlier this year announcing his first-ever holiday album, I was quite excited!  One of my goals in running New Age Christmas Radio is to discover newly created and recorded holiday music.  It was with much anticipation, then, that I awaited the arrival of Generations in the mailbox.

The music that I have enjoyed, and am subsequently sharing with you this season, was well worth the wait!  Simply put, Generations is one of those albums that must be experienced in its entirety in order to be fully appreciated.  As the title implies, Generations is like a journey through time, with each selection presented in the order in which it was written, beginning with early 13th century “The Star Of Christmas Morning,” and ending with the song made famous by Charles Schultz’s animated holiday creations, “Christmas Time Is Here.”

In between is a collection of holiday classics ranging from the familiar “Silent Night,” to the more obscure “Prepare The Way, O Zion,” including Ken’s own signature improvisation on these fine tunes.  Listening to this album has definitely encouraged me to discover other music recorded by this talented musician.

“Generations Of Yuletide” is one of those holiday albums you can put on while entertaining, then relax to after everyone has gone home for the evening, and realize a unique experience in each setting.  It is a perfect addition to New Age Christmas Radio this season, and a welcome addition to your own music collection.  Listen to samples from “Generations Of Yuletide” here.

New Holiday Music From Enya!

Just in time for the 2008 Christmas holiday season, Enya releases the latest in her series of beautifully-crafted collections of some of the dreamiest music you’ll ever hear.

Famous for the ever-enchanting “Orinoco Flow” Enya has created a sound that is truly unique, and she continues that tradition of uniqueness with this album, called “And Winter Came.”

Probably most recognizible as Enya’s “trademark” sound are the songs “White Is In The Winter Night,” and “Trains And Winter Rains.”  However, Enya also possesses the wonderful gift of “serenade” in “Dreams Are More Precious,” “The Spirit Of Christmas Past,” as well as title cut, “And Winter Came.” And maybe it’s just me, but it seems as if with every one of Enya’s releases, she always includes what I like to call a “fun” song, and she doesn’t disappoint with this release either on “My! My! Time Flies!”

If you are an Enya fan as much as I am, this music is a “must have” for your collection.  And if you’re new to her music, I invite you to “get hooked” by listening for her music here on New Age Christmas Radio.  Better yet, listen to some samples from “And Winter Came” here, and decide for yourself!

New Age Christmas Radio 2008 Is Online!

November 24,2008

Welcome to the 2008 version of New Age Christmas Radio!  As you can already see, this year we’re going “all-out” to bring you, what we hope, is a better listening experience than ever-before!

You can listen to our broadcast simply by clicking the player to the left.  For an even better, uninterrupted listening experience while you surf the web, click on the “Popup The Player” link.  And if you have trouble listening with our player, or you just prefer to listen with Winamp or Itunes, click on the appropriate link (or here) to invoke those players.

Beneath the player you will find the title of the song currently playing on the station.  If you like the song and would like to purchase it, simply click on the title and you will be taken to the Amazon listing for that title.  A portion your purchase will help New Age Christmas Radio.  To update the currently-playing song title, click on your browser’s “reload” or “refresh” button.  You can also see a listing of the last 21 songs played on the station by visiting the “Song History” link.

This year, we return to providing New Age Christmas Radio with a “near CD-quality” 96K MP3 audio broadcast.  We’re using a new streaming server, with an even greater capacity, but it comes at a significant cost.  To learn more about this effort, and how you can help keep New Age Christmas Radio running, click here.

You can also help New Age Christmas Radio by visiting our Amazon CD and MP3 store, or by purchasing from Amazon via any of the links found on this website.  A portion of the proceeds from any Amazon sale that’s made from clicking on these links goes back to help our broadcasts.

I’m also going to provide a little more “content” on the website this year, sharing with you my thoughts on some of my favorite music that I play on the station, so you’ll want to keep checking back here regularly.  And, if you also find that you like the music I write about, you may purchase it from Amazon, and a portion of the proceeds will help New Age Christmas Radio.

Finally, please take a moment to visit the Guestbook, and find out about others who are enjoying New Age Christmas Radio along with you.  And, of course, don’t forget to leave your own thoughts there as well.  I’m especially interested in learning where you are listening from, and what’s going on in your world while you’re listening!

In case you’re wondering about the photo that appears at the top of this website, that is the view outside my parent’s backyard window.  I took that during Christmas 2007, knowing it would be the perfect scenery to share with you, along with the relaxing music found here.  Enjoy!

As you can probably tell, this year represents what I hope is a real evolution for New Age Christmas Radio.  What started off as a simple curiosity in streaming audio has grown into what I hope becomes an even better listening experience for you this year!  This year was also an evolution for myself, as I officially delved into online streaming on a more serious level.  I’ll be sharing more about that soon on the “About Us” page of this website, so keep checking back for more there very soon.

As I write these words, our nation and world stands at a significant crossroads.  Uncertainty, coupled with great concern for the future seem to be abundant.  Hopefully, in the midst of all of this, you will be able to find peace, tranquility and perhaps even a little comfort within the music found here on New Age Christmas Radio.

Happy Holidays!

-John