This Is Christmas Time
This Is Christmas Time is a collection of 16 of my favorite Christmas classics, re-imagined with a modern twist. From jazz quartets to full orchestra, traditional to contemporary, these rich, creative arrangements beautifully capture the joy of the season. This is a true Christmas lover's CD. If, like me, your Christmas CDs are brought out the day after Halloween, and stay out until after New Year's, you'll find This Is Christmas Time an invaluable addition to your collection. So have a Hot Toddy, put the Yule log on the fire, and enjoy this fresh Christmas CD!
Click HERE to purchase this CD
More about This Is Christmas Time
Making this CD was a real labor of love for me. I love all things Christmas - especially the music. The collection of songs I put together each have a special meaning for me and are tied to a certain Christmas memory. I hope this CD will create Christmas memories for you that can be revisited year after year.
I'm delighted to be working with producer and orchestrator John Bisharat , conductor, Daniel Wachs, and to be backed by award-winning Los Angeles musicians, including:
Matt Harris on piano;
from the Tierney Sutton Band, Trey Henry on bass and Ray Brinker on drums;
Dan Higgins, Bill Liston, and Grammy nominated Alan Kaplan and Wayne Bergeron on brass;
Brian Kilgore on percussion;
Paul Viapiano on guitar;
Danielle Ondarza on french horn;
Louise Thomas on keyboards;
Songa Lee, Sam Fisher, Joel Pargman, Tereza Stanislav, Ashoka Thiagarajan, Brett Banducci, Rob Brophy, Timothy Loo, Elizabeth Wright, Dave Stone, and John Bisharat on strings
Added to this impressive line-up are my good friends and Broadway leading ladies Heidi Godt (Mama Mia) on “Snow” and Tammy Tappan Damiano (Miss Saigon) on “Count Your Blessings” -- songs from one of my favorite Christmas movies, White Christmas.
I am very excited to premiere a beautiful new Christmas song -- This Is Christmas Time -- by singer-songwriter Steven Santoro, who wrote the lyrics and music for "How Will I Ever Find My Way," from my debut CD, Somewhere In Time. It's a cool, sentimental, easy jazz piece sure to put you in the Holiday mood!
REVIEWS
I am really in the wrong generation to love easy listening music. It is the music of my father, though it is as accurate to say that talk radio was the music of my father, as he wasn't much of a music listener. Kevin Koelbl's outing, This Is Christmas Time is the kind of easy listening that wins converts. Augmented by a full orchestra, and featuring strong vocals and cool arrangements, Koelbl's renditions are fun and satisfying. I think my favorite from this set was his arrangement of Snow, performed as a duet with Heidi Godt. Their wink and nod to the original version (from the movie White Christmas) made me smile.
Richard Banks
Christmasreviews.com
This is a delicious holiday CD! Kevin Koelbl's wonderful hot buttered baritone caresses the listening ear. There are lovely old songs and new. A perfect addition to your Christmas music library.
Amanda McBroom, composer of The Rose
It is evident from the opening notes, Mr. Koelbl is one heck of a singer. A deep robust voice with a silky quality to it he attacks (can you attack a Christmas song?) these standards with vigor. When he and the band rip into the above mentioned, "Sleigh Ride", well you can feel the wind on your cheeks and the snow in your hair. "Little Drummer Boy" transports you to another space - the drums and bass lay out almost a reggae feel for this timeless classic.
There are so many great Christmas songs out there...this is probably one of the most difficult albums of music for any artist to succeed with, as they will always be compared to the standards we grew up with as children.
But I think Mr. Koelbl does himself proud with this release.
Bond @ BigLeatherCouch.com
Interview with David Byrd
David Byrd @ thatbluejeansguy.com
Snowfall / White Christmas - The two songs are perfect counterparts. Welcome Christmas / Christmas Time Is Here - Dr. Seuss meets Charles M. Schulz, at last. Another teaming of Christmas songs complemented by Kevin's fine singing. Happy Holiday - This one's so closely associated with Bing Crosby that many artists don't even attempt it. Kevin's jazzy version will open some ears. The Little Drummer Boy - WOW! The drums, percussion, and bass give this a Caribbean feel throughout. A standout track. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Add an acoustic guitar accompaniment, the long lost intro to the song, and you get an excellent rendition. Sleigh Ride - Starts with bass and Kevin's voice - then they crack the jazz whip and off on a great sleigh ride. Nice trip! Merry Christmas - In 2006, Bette Midler led off her HYPERLINK "http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2007/01/bette-midler-cool-yule.html" Christmas album with this long-forgotten song written by Fred Spielman and Janice Torre. Here, Kevin ends his album with it, very stylishly and elegantly.
Captain OT @ A Christmas Yuleblog
Somewhere In Time
A song that made you smile when you were 20 can make you cry when you're 30, then smile again when you're 40.......only for a completely different reason. My debut CD Somewhere In Time, which was pre-nominated for a Grammy*, is about that unique relationship between a great song and those moments when it touches our lives. The songs I chose for this CD span nine decades from the 20's to the new millennium.
Click HERE to purchase this CD
More about Somewhere In Time
Growing up listening to the great singers - Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Tony Bennett, and Barbra Streisand - I daydreamed many times of recording an album. Coming from a small Midwest town, I guess I never really thought it would happen, but I'm happy and proud to say it did! This CD is filled with music that is old and new to me, and each song holds a special meaning for me. The music from the title song comes from the movie, Somewhere In Time, but the lyrics were set to the melody for a show I did in Las Vegas called EFX. The duet, "Tonight", is also from EFX and depicts Harry Houdini coming back to comfort his wife Bess through a seance.
I am delighted to be surrounded by the many talents of award winning Producer, Arranger, Orchestrator, John Boswell, Executive Producer, Lee Lessack, and the gifted musicians who have come together for the recording of my first solo CD.
John Boswell on piano and keyboards;
Bart Samolis on bass;
MB Gordy on drums and percussion;
Dennis Farias on fluegelhorn and coronet;
Stefanie Fife on cello;
David Boswell on guitar;
John Yoakum on English horn, tenor sax, and alto sax;
Cari Golden, guest vocalist
REVIEWS
"Once this CD begins and you're put in the capable and loving hands of arranger and producer John Boswell, the joy of discovering Kevin Koelbl is made easy. The intriguing selection of songs takes you on the kind of journey that both flatters the soloist and makes the listening a pleasure. I was especially interested in the two waltz songs from famous CINDERELLAS -- Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Ten Minutes Ago" and "So This Is Love" from Disney's animated version -- blended together into a medley. The guy's clearly fallen for the object of his affection, and what a beautiful way to express it! This CD was my introduction to Kevin Koelbl. I can't wait to hear more from him."
Theodore S. Chapin,
President, The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization
"Congratulations to Lee Lessack and LML Music and the following LML artists who have been selected on the pre-nomination ballot for the 44th annual Grammy Awards: Kevin Koelbl - Somewhere In Time (Traditional Pop Vocal)"
Cabaret Hotline Online
"If I had to recommend just one CD from this list, it would be Kevin Koelbl's debut album, Somewhere In Time. His lush baritone voice, coupled with John Boswell's always superb arrangements, make this an irresistibly lush, romantic and ultimately soothing album. You may have seen Koelbl (pronounced 'cable') while visiting Las Vegas as he co-starred in the original cast of MGM's EFX with Michael Crawford, taking over the starring role upon Crawford's departure. The songs encompass Broadway ("You Are My Home" and "In A Very Unusual Way"), film ("Someday," from Disney's Hunchback and the title song), standards from both worlds ("It Could Happen To You," "Time After Time" and "The Way You Look Tonight") and some contemporary cabaret/pop songs (most notably "Rewriting History" by Stephen Schwartz and Steven Lutvak, a highly infectious number). Koelbl shares a lovely duet, "Tonight" by Don Grady and Marty Panzer, with Cari Golden to shimmering effect. My favorite track is the 'why didn't somebody think of this sooner' pairing of songs from two Cinderella's: Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Ten Minutes Ago" and Disney's "So This Is Love," which beautifully augment each other's expression of love found.
Jonathan Frank - Talkin' Broadway
"Kevin's CD Somewhere in Time is a great favorite of mine. I bought it to hear one of the only recordings of "Rewriting History" with music by Stephen Schwartz, but I fell in love with the whole album. His voice is both mellow and rich, and his song choices allow for gentle but never boring listening. Kevin's CD also includes his rendition of the Menken/Schwartz classic from Hunchback of Notre Dame, Someday."
Carol de Giere - The Stephen Schwartz Scene
"Kevin does a great job evoking loneliness, heartache, and the joy of finding love. The album has a wonderful smoky, three-in-the-morning feel to it, like Kevin's letting you in on the secrets of his soul. The disc is available from LML Music, which is rapidly becoming one of the best record labels for cabaret vocalists."
Bill Jennings - Mermaniac - A Showtunes Weblog