Search - Ronnie Aldrich :: Xmas With Ronnie Aldrich

Christmas Piano And Orchestra Masterpiece

rodney wiltin | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | 06/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In 1961, RONNIE ALDRICH recorded a christmas album that would become one of the best orchestra christmas albums ever recorded, RONNIE ALDRICH AND HIS TWO PIANOS WITH THE STRINGS OF THE LONDON FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA - CHRISTMAS WITH RONNIE ALDRICH.



Of course, RONNIE'S piano playing is pretty much perfect here, but the orchestra has a strong presence on this album too. I'm happiest this way because the piano doesn't steal the beautiful orchestral music that is played here. That said, RONNIE'S piano definitely does lead the way in much of it and the orchestra is often just 'backing,' but it's still very nice and a little different than the usual 'orchestra' christmas albums. All-in-all, I would consider this an orhchestra christmas album as much as a piano christmas album. Perhaps I can call this album an orchestra album with a lead piano throughout. And despite the lead piano throughout, the strings of the LONDON FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA are very powerful and lush throughout this album as well. They are not just a simple back-up to the piano. And the rhythm section of the orchestra is also fantastic.



THE CHRISTMAS WALTZ may be the best version of that song ever recorded (of course, FRANK SINATRA may have something to say about that and even the LIVING STRINGS orchestra version from 1970 could give this version a run for it's money). The orchestra and RONNIE'S piano playing really do everything right in this song and is beautiful beyond words.



TOYLAND was also a surprise for me here and it may be the best version of the song ever recorded, well, in an orchestra instrumental way at least.



And all the other songs, from WHITE CHRISTMAS to SLEIGHRIDE, are flawlessly recorded as well.



Perhaps the closest comparison to this RONNIE ALDRICH christmas album would be the album by ROGER WILLIAMS - CHRISTMAS TIME, from 1959. However, really, I would have to say that the comparison would only be that both are a piano driven orchestra christmas album because ROGER WILLIAMS' - CHRISTMAS TIME is so much better (despite how great this RONNIE ALDRICH is), the piano of ROGER WILLIAMS blends in with the orchestra better and the orchestra itself stands out alot more on the ROGER WILLIAMS album than the orchestra on RONNIE ALDRICH'S - CHRISTMAS WITH RONNIE ALDRICH album. But still, if you like a lead piano with a backing orchestra, ROGER WILLIAMS christmas album would be a comparison. Other comparisons would be the LIVING STRINGS (already mentioned above), PERCY FAITH, HENRY MANCINI, etc......



If you ever can get this on cd (it's out there because I have a copy, but it's very rare), do get it if you like orhcestra christmas music. It's one of the best in that genre and just one of the best christmas albums ever."