Search - John McDermott :: Images of Christmas

Looking For Something New And Different For Christmas? Look

08/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tenor John Charles McDermott, born in Glasgow, Scotland on March 25, 1955, emigrated to Canada with his family in 1965 and settled in Toronto (Willowdale), Ontario. Attending St. Michael's College, he became a member of their famed choir during 1971 and 1972 (the same one that had spawned both The Crew Cuts and The Four Lads back in the 1950s), and made his concert debut in Halifax, Nova Scotia on October 5, 1993, as the opening act for the famed group, The Chieftains. Tours across Canada, as well as Australia and New Zealand soon followed, his popularity soaring in those last two countries following the release of his acclaimed rendition of Danny Boy, as well as the U.K. where he toured with The Seekers. The Chicago Sun Times wrote that McDermott was the "worthy heir to the famed Irish tenor John McCormack"



Here, in conjunction with some of Canada's best musical artists, he performs a diverse array of Christmas tunes, including familiar ones like What Child Is This? (with Colette Baron-Reid, also an acclaimed international intuitive counsellor), Christmas Time Is Here (the theme from A Charlie Brown Christmas made famous by Vince Guaraldi, done here with Jane Bunnett, soprano saxophonist, flutist and bandleader), Winter Wonderland (performed by the pop group, Shaye), The Huron Carol (with Pavlo), The Little Drummer Boy (with Ali Slaight), and O Holy Night (with Dawn Langstroth - Anne Murray's daughter).



Mixed with these are some new seasonal songs penned by the likes of Ron Sexsmith (Maybe This Christmas - on which Ron joins with John), Far Beyond This Christmas Eve, written and performed here by Cindy Church, Ring The Bell For Christmas, written and performed by Lawrence Gowan, now keyboardist and vocalist for Styx, Wishing (written by Marc Jordan who performs it here with John), and Christmas All The Time (written and performed by Tom Cochran).



Full details of these and the other tracks are contained in the liner notes, written by John, and the sound quality is excellent. A sure winner for anyone looking for something just a bit different for the Christmas season."