With Christmas, Steinway Artist Kevin Kern brings his signature style to sixteen timeless holiday favorites. The selections range from the simplicity of “What Child is This” to the hauntingly beautiful, “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming.” He harkens back to his earliest days, closing the collection with “Silent Night,” the very first song he learned to play at the tender age of eighteen months.
Christmas is a solo piano collection recorded on an inspiring Steinway Grand piano and is sure to become a holiday favorite.
“...While this album is distinctly Kevin Kern’s style with the melodies of these holiday favorites simple and heartfelt, Kern seems to be allowing his jazz roots to show a bit more prominently with rich harmonies and unexpected chord changes as well as some really interesting rhythms. This collection of sixteen traditional Christmas songs and carols is completely solo piano (as was Kern’s final recording for Real Music Enchanted Piano), something I’ve been hoping for and requesting for a long, long time. If you’ve ever seen Kern perform live, you know what a phenomenal pianist he is, so I’m thrilled to be able to hear Kern’s piano all by itself. The overall tone of the album is very smooth and peaceful with a few auditory surprises (very pleasant ones, I might add!). So, if you’re in the mood for some Christmas music that’s a little different (but not TOO different), this one is an excellent choice! For those of you who are pianists, you’ll be happy to know that there is a companion sheet music book for Christmas. My favorite track is oddly one of my least-favorite carols – “O Christmas Tree” (probably because I got tired of teaching it to my beginning piano students). Kern’s arrangement is wonderful, and I love that he put some of the verses in a minor key! That really got my attention and brought on a great big grin! The album closes with “Silent Night,” the very first piece Kern ever learned – at the tender age of eighteen months (I don’t think he played this arrangement, though(!!!)). This version is as gentle and peaceful as falling snow and ends this lovely album with a sigh of contentment.
Congratulations to Kevin Kern on his new indie label and first Christmas collection! Very highly recommended!” ~ Kathy Parsons, MainlyPiano
