Christmas by Paul Cardall album trailer

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With music lovers streaming his songs more than 25 million times a month, it's obvious Paul Cardall knows how to tap emotions through music. The acclaimed composer/pianist does it again with Christmas. Recorded at Nashville's legendary Ocean Way Studios, the classical crossover project features Cardall's spin on such beloved holiday standards as "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing," "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella," "Away in a Manger," and " Joy to the World" as well as such compelling originals as "Son of God" and "Christmas Past."

The album also features vocal collaborations from three world-class voices: 12-time Grammy winner CeCe Winans, award-winning singer/songwriter Audrey Assad, and Australia's Broadway star Patrice Tipoki.

Look for this moving collection to become the soundtrack of your Christmas celebrations year after year!

Track List
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
In the Bleak Midwinter (feat. Audrey Assad)
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Jesus, Once of Humble Birth
It Came upon a Midnight Clear
Christmas Past
Joy to the World
O Holy Night (feat. CeCe Winans)
Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
Once in Royal David's City
Son of God (feat. Patrice Tipoki)
Away in a Manger
Silent Night

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Review by Michael Debbage

Paul Cardall’s moving yet never overstated piano playing is central on Christmas only to be supplemented by the production talents of Michael W Smith’s keyboard/musical director Jim Daneker. So needless to say there is a certain degree of MWS DNA buried within Daneker’s musical memory banks, and when brought together with Cardall’s piano it is magical. We hear this immediately on the opening track “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” as the track opens with Cardall’s simple piano work only to be fully embellished and lifted into the stratosphere of Daneker’s arrangements. They complement each other perfectly. This is best heard by the slow building “Joy To The World” that once again starts with Cardall’s perfectly slow swaying rhythmic piano work as Daneker integrates with much detail. However, Cardall outdoes himself moments later via “O Holy Night” with the one and only CeCe Winans delivering a vocal rendition that will have tear ducts in action. Once again Daneker adds his magical arrangements only making this song a “trinity” of talents coming together in a most moving way.

Lesser embellished carols include the gorgeous and less familiar “Once In Royal David City” that creates a whole different mood but nevertheless equally touching results. Cardall even presents two of his own stellar compositions, one of which includes the pure voice of vocalist Patrice Tipoki. Previously featured on A New Creation album, it was perfect to be featured here because if anyone can claim not to have heard the Good News then one listen to these lyrics erases that claim as the Gospel is made very clear of why God Emmanuel in the form of the Sweet Baby Jesus came to our struggling earth. And what a great way to follow up this song with “Away In A Manager” with Cardall’s soft lullaby piano work being up front and center only to conclude with the flowing tender “Silent Night” that will have the tears flowing too.

With over seventy Christmas albums in the household, while it is a very special time of the year there are only so many versions of these limited number of options that an artist can touch upon. However, Paul Cardall, a wonderful producer in his own right, made the wonderful humble move of bringing in the arrangements and production values of Jim Daneker. Trusting his warm, uncomplicated piano interpretations in the hands of another was a great risk and praise God that he did. As a result this will be one of those very rare Christmas albums that will stand apart from its abundance of peers. Sounding like a broken record these days, Paul Cardall may have outdone himself again, making Christmas not only one of the best Christmas albums in years, but also one of his best recordings to date.