Jennifer Thomas - Winter Symphony (2015)

Typically Christmas albums have been marginalized with an artist either fulfilling their recording contract with a quick easy fix or a shortcut in filling your stocking with a simple understated seasonal gift. So when Jennifer Thomas announced that her new project was going to be a Christmas album on the tail of her epic album Illumination this reviewer had significant reservations. Well just one listen of the opening track of Winter Symphony eradicated any doubt that this recording was going to be a letdown as it is as magical and special as the season it represents.

Winter Symphony has a total of twelve tracks which has a great healthy balance of seasonal holiday songs and hymns. But the two tracks that really jump out are the Jennifer Thomas originals Alleluia and the title track. Alleluia is a spine tingling vocal and choral arrangement featuring Felicia Farerre and the Ensign Chorus that is supplemented by a more reserved string and piano performance allowing the vocals to be the focal point. This track is so inspiring and uplifting its heavenly music could be the new anthem to inspire us to put the Christ back into the holiday season in our way too politically correct world. In complete contrast to Alleluia , Thomas lets it fly on the more dramatic and bombastic Winter Symphony that will have you wanting to turn the volume knob all the way to eleven (a Spinal Tap reference for those of you that remember the rock mockumentary).

This leaves us with the more familiar carols and holiday songs throughout Winter Symphony that while not original compositions their arrangements are fully integrated with the musical DNA of Thomas. There is very clear evidence of this from the opening track Angels We Have Heard On High , though familiar to many receives the Thomidas golden touch alterations making for a gorgeous stirring introduction to Winter Symphony. The passionate performance from piano, choral, orchestral and percussion arrangements puts you on immediate notice that this is not going to be a cookie cutter stocking stuffing Christmas album but the real deal classic dream. But what else should we expect from an artist that is clearly fully committed to her craft. This is bookended with the stylistic interpretation of O Holy Night that closes out the album. The carol and hymns are countered with festive holiday songs with the most obvious ones being the Theme From Home Alone and a great cover of the Danny Elfman composition Ice Dance that was featured in the movie Edward Scissorhands. Initially it sounds like a carbon copy but needless to say Thomas adds a little more audacity to the song making it her own without destroying the spirit of the original recording.

Not only has Jennifer Thomas quickly shown the musical world that she is an exceptional writer and performer but this also extends to her production quality that is bold and beautiful. With partial thanks to arranger Glen Gabriel this fully committed recording reflects the sounds of a major recording label. Winter Symphony is so impressive that it will be mentioned next to the Amy Grant s Michael W Smith s and David Foster s who have all released highly regarded Christmas albums that will be played for years to come. Needless to say Jennifer Thomas and Winter Symphony is in great company and fully deserves these high accolades. That said specialty album or not this is a strong candidate for album of the year. –Michael Debbage, mainlypiano.com

Truly an album worth owning. And I do mean that. OWNING. Add this to your Christmas music playlist and play this every year. Heck, play it all Winter long, because this is a "Winter Symphony"

This is a fun review to be able to write. I'm writing this paragraph last as an overview. Why? I wanted to capture the emotions and feelings that I had when I first listened to this release and get them down in their raw and honest form.

Track 1 - Angels We Have Heard On High (feat. The Ensign Chorus)

What a way to make an entrance. Seriously. From beginning to end, I have copious ripples of goose flesh. Chills and thrills and might I add some heavy WOW moments. I love the arrangement as it builds, but when the chorus enters the scene. Oh my. At one point I felt myself tearing up. Right when the theme for "Ave Maria" started to roll into the middle section, then full bloom back into "Angels We Have Heard On High". Stellar track.

Track 2 - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

This arrangement should have been in a Harry Potter movie right smack dab in the middle of the Christmas segment. Just saying. It takes you on the whimsical journey of the Sugar Plum Fairy. I can almost see the dancers on stage. But when the track goes on a romp through a waltz-out-of-control (and that's a good thing), I see the dancers take flight across stage and everything is strewn with ribbons and bows and snowflakes falling. It's just a happy-go-lucky-whimsical jaunt through the music and that just makes me very happy. I've only ever heard someone else do a waltz-out-of-control and that's Hanz Zimmer in the soundtrack for Gladiator, in the opening battle scene with the Germans. It was perfect there and it's perfect here.

Track 3 - Carol of Bells Well. I have to say. Carol of Bells is not one of my favorite songs. I have a friend who has done a really cool blitzed out dance version of it that made it not repetitive at all. But this version has now become my favorite version of the song and has made me like the song even more. It's a beautiful arrangement and not repetitive at all. I love the swells and rolls of the melody. Just makes me want to jump in the snow and play like a kids again. (now if you could do this to The Little Drummer Boy, Jennifer, I'd be grateful.)

Track 4 - Alleluia (feat. Felicia Farerre and The Ensign Chorus)

I just have one word for this track. Wow. I could just end with that, but I'll elaborate a little. Nothing does this track justice, but to sit, listen and envelope yourself in the angelic voices of The Ensign Chorus and Felicia Farerre. I shivered from beginning to end. The big "love" that comes through in this track is pure passion and magical all the way. Elegant, graceful, stunning, beautiful, passionate…and simply WOW. Jennifer, you have written a masterpiece here. WOW This one brought tears to my eyes several times.

Track 5 - Ice Dance (feat. The Ensign Chorus)

Here we go again. Goose flesh and some beautiful Elfman-ish chorus with stunning orchestral swells take me through woods with the snowflakes falling, while skating on the icy river. Straight out of a scene from Hans Christian Anderson. It's just what I feel folks. Everyone is going to get a different experience from this track. But if Tim Burton were to ever redo Edward Scissorhands? Yep, this would be the track to consider when he's making his ice sculptures. Again; what a beautiful arrangement.

(Read the full review at davidbrucedavis.blogspot.com) –Dave Davis, Musical Notes Reviews

Tracklist:
01. Jennifer Thomas; The Ensign Chorus - Angels We Have Heard On High
02. Jennifer Thomas - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
03. Jennifer Thomas - Carol of the Bells
04. Jennifer Thomas; Felicia Farerre; The Ensign Chorus - Alleluia
05. Jennifer Thomas; The Ensign Chorus - Ice Dance
06. Jennifer Thomas - I Saw Three Ships
07. Jennifer Thomas - Breath of Heaven
08. Jennifer Thomas - Theme from Home Alone (Somewhere in My Memory)
09. Jennifer Thomas; Taylor Davis - What Child Is This
10. Jennifer Thomas; The Ensign Chorus - Silent Night
11. Jennifer Thomas - Winter Symphony
12. Jennifer Thomas - O Holy Night