Cellist
Yo-Yo Ma has long been a giant in the classical world, though he has also made a number of recordings with musicians who play other styles. This holiday disc doesn't exclusively stick to traditional Christmas songs, but covers a wide scope of material in a very ambitious manner.
Ma opens with a lovely take of the traditional favorite "Dona Noblis Pacem (Give Us Peace)," playing both the melody and counterpoint via overdubbing. Jazz pianist/vocalist
Diana Krall is superb in a swinging rendition of
Jerome Kern's unjustly obscure "You Couldn't Be Cuter," adding bassist
John Clayton. An arrangement of "Joy to the World" features pianist
Dave Brubeck, cellist
Matt Brubeck (his son), and clarinetist
Paquito D'Rivera in a playful setting that works in "The Christmas Song" and "On the Trail." The senior
Brubeck's "Concordia" is filled with spirit in a lively performance with the two cellists.
Chris Botti has never sounded better in the warm arrangement of "My Favorite Things," playing both open and muted trumpet, with pianist
Billy Childs, bassist
Robert Hurst, drummer
Billy Kilson, and guitarist
Romero Lubambo.
Ma has previously collaborated with bassist
Edgar Meyer (who is equally at home in jazz and classical music), though this is the cellist's first meeting with mandolinist
Chris Thile. Together they make an impressive trio, especially in the enticing medley of "The Wassail Song" and "All Through the Night." Soprano
Renée Fleming's rich voice is beautifully complemented by
Ma,
Meyer, and
Thile. Having worked with onetime bluegrass fiddler
Mark O'Connor,
Ma is very much at home with Celtic fiddler
Natalie MacMaster in the lively medley of "A Christmas Jig" and "Mouth of the Tobique Reel." Among the other friends featured on this disc are the Assad Family,
Wu Tong & the Silk Road Ensemble, tenor saxophonist
Joshua Redman, plus
Alison Krauss with piper
Christina Pato. One track doesn't fit in all that well with the rest of this CD. The
Beatles' bland "Here Comes the Sun" has a warm vocal by
James Taylor but it is hampered by its weak lyrics. ~ Ken Dryden