Joy to the World [Barnes & Noble Exclusive] [Clear Vinyl]

by Pink Martini

Overview

Just when it feels like every possible version of every possible holiday song has been recorded already, Pink Martini's Joy to the World finds ways to revive holiday spirits. While the band could very easily do a swanky lounge-pop album of the season's songs, this globally minded collection is traditional and unpredictable at the same time. Pink Martini begins Joy to the World with an intimate rendition of "White Christmas" that's so faithful to the original that it features the sunny California prelude that was included when it debuted in the film Holiday Inn, then they follow it with a lush orchestral rendition -- sung in Japanese. Yet quirks like these don't feel kitschy; aside from "Santa Baby," Joy to the World's lone indulgence in camp, the album sings of peace and celebration in many tongues. Whether they give "Little Drummer Boy"'s arrangement a Middle Eastern-meets-lounge twist or sing "Silent Night" in German, Arabic, and English, Pink Martini ensures this is truly a multicultural party. The group even makes fresh choices for Hanukkah and New Year's, presenting the conclusion of the Amidah prayer set to music ("Elohai, N'tzor") and "Ocho Kandelikas," a Sephardic song sung in Ladino. "Congratulations," a song for the Chinese New Year, is such a breath of fresh air compared to "Auld Lang Syne" that it's easy to forget that this song would normally be heard in late January or early February instead of the end of December. And when "Auld Lang Syne" arrives with an arrangement inspired by Brazilian Carnaval music, it sends off the album, and the year, with a huge celebration. A near-perfect blend of spirituality and festivity, Joy to the World lets listeners hear the holidays with new ears, and maybe see it with fresh eyes, too. ~ Heather Phares

Product Details

Release Date:	11/06/2015
Label:	Heinz Records
UPC:	0751937435310

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Pink Martini   Primary Artist
Duncan Tuomi   Choir/Chorus
David Gerhards   Choir/Chorus
Devin Van Hine   Choir/Chorus
Lauren Searls   Choir/Chorus
Stephen Ecklemann   Choir/Chorus
Russ Blake   Slide Guitar
Ari Bluffstone   Choir/Chorus
Ara Nelson   Tamborim
Yumi Torimaru   Tamborim
Jay Mower   Tamborim
The Pacific Choir   Featured Artist
John Jenness   Caixa
Will Marsh   Choir/Chorus
Calvin Multanen   Choir/Chorus
Eric Asakawa   Choir/Chorus
Lions of Batucada   Featured Artist
Lusi Candido   Cavaquinho
Jeremy Gordon   Surdo
Jamie Klein   Choir/Chorus
Don Henson   Marimba,Xylophone
John Meo   Choir/Chorus
Patricia Costa Kim   Accordion,Guest Artist
Nathan LaRiviere-Koempel   Choir/Chorus
Michael Kepler Meo   Choir/Chorus
Sue Smith   Choir/Chorus
Mia Hall Savage   Director
Kathleen Hunt   Caixa
Tim Cooper   Surdo
Stephen Marc Beaudoin   Vocals (Background)
Adam Johnson   Choir/Chorus
Brian Davis   Chekere,Repenique,Percussion,Sleigh Bells,Cuica,Surdo,Congas
Dan Faehnle   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
David Gerow   Mandolin
Nicholas Crosa   Violin
Esteban Diaz   Caixa
Ben Landsverk   Vocals (Background)
Saori Yuki   Vocals,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Carl Halvorson   Vocals (Background)
Ida Rae Cahana   Vocals,Guest Artist
Bells of the Cascades   Featured Artist
Fairouz   Vocals
Randall Givens   Caixa
Portland Boychoir   Featured Artist
The Pacific Youth Choir   Choir/Chorus,Featured Artist
Grace Fong   Piano,Celeste,Guest Artist
Luke Multanen   Choir/Chorus
Forrest Gamba   Choir/Chorus
Matthew Krane   Choir/Chorus
Debbie Ivanov   Choir/Chorus
Brian Parrott   Choir/Chorus
Sarah Breckenridge   Choir/Chorus
Cindy Gronbach   Choir/Chorus
Kassandra Haddock   Choir/Chorus
Lauren Berg   Choir/Chorus
Elena Hess   Choir/Chorus
Noah Cotter   Choir/Chorus
Jeramie Gajan   Choir/Chorus
Brandyn Callahan   Choir/Chorus
Jessica Wasko   Choir/Chorus
Drew Danin   Tamborim
Noah Gladen-Kolarsky   Choir/Chorus
Yestin Harrison   Choir/Chorus
Jim Troisi   Choir/Chorus
Ari Shapiro   Vocals,Guest Artist
Glen Hascall   Choir/Chorus
Chelsea Plaskitt   Choir/Chorus
Audrey Overby   Choir/Chorus
Nate Overmeyer   Vocals (Background)
Jayson Thoming-Gale   Tamborim
Paxton Woods-Eliot   Choir/Chorus
Pauline Serrano   Chocalhos
Karen Early   Guest Artist,Sleigh Bells
China Forbes   Vocals
Gavin Bondy   Trumpet
Timothy Nishimoto   Shaker,Vocals,Cowbell,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Maureen Love   Harp
Martin Zarzar   Drums,Congas,Shaker,Chekere,Cymbals,Triangle,Percussion,Tambourine,Sleigh Bells
Phil Baker   Bass (Upright)
Taylor Johnson   Choir/Chorus
Daniel Dempsey   Choir/Chorus
Tim Jensen   Flute,Clarinet,Guest Artist
Pansy Chang   Cello
Derek Rieth   Congas,Chekere,Cowbell,Percussion
Thomas Lauderdale   Piano,Celeste
Robert Taylor   Trombone

Technical Credits

Jacques Sevin   Composer
Dr. Dirgham Sbait   Composer,Assistant,Adaptation,Translation
Mia Hall Savage   Direction
Brian Davis   Direction
Harry Simeone   Composer
Joan Javits   Composer
Gloria Shayne Baker   Composer
Mike King   Design
Mykola Leontovych   Composer
Chen Ge Xin   Composer
David York   Direction
Francesco Maria Piave   Composer
Stephen Taylor   Orchestration
Traditional   Composer
Bernie Grundman   Mastering
China Forbes   Composer
Irving Berlin   Composer
Dave Friedlander   Mixing,Engineer
Franz Gruber   Composer
Joseph Mohr   Composer
Giuseppe Verdi   Composer
Pink Martini   Producer
Noel Regney   Composer
Tatsuro Yamashita   Composer
Henry Onorati   Composer
Danny Maseng   Composer
Philip Springer   Composer
Thomas Lauderdale   Composer,Producer
Flory Jagoda   Composer
Robert Burns   Composer
John Henry Hopkins, Jr.   Composer
Katherine K. Davis   Composer