[.ca] This Time Of The Year

From Amazon.com:
This Time of Year serves up R & B and jazzy Christmas music from a singer whose style lies between the sophisticated elegance of Tony Bennett and the soulful grit of Dr. John. Tyrell clearly has a ball covering "The Christmas Song" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," the latter featuring the great jazz trumpeter Clark Terry. Though Tyrell has a versatile backing band, the arrangements on these seasoned classics are on the safe side. But he really nails the sentiment of the holiday on the soulful title track. Here, Tyrell showcases his vocal prowess, using color and nuance to underscore the season's good cheer. A little more adventurousness would have lifted the CD above a solid stocking stuffer. --Martin Keller

This Time Of Year CD review:
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this CD! And I was not disappointed one bit! Steve put a totally new sound and feel to these holiday classics! Steve's unique voice combined with the band's expertise sounded magical. It definitely will put anyone in the holiday spirit. It's a must buy! And if you don't have his two other standard CDs - they are a must buy too! Great, great music!

THIS TIME OF THE YEAR; A Joy of Joys:
If you aren't ready for a really good time, you'd better watch out. Steve Tyrell's THIS TIME OF THE YEAR could blow you away. If you are, grab your copy and run--don't walk--to the nearest CD player. Smiling starts here. Here is Steve at his rowdy, bluesy, romantic, joyful, swinging best; opening with a rollicking "Santa Claus is Coming To Town." That "rascal" "Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer" never had so much fun, with trumpeter Terry Clark as Santa and Tyrell's son Nick and the whole gang joining in. A terrific production. It should come as no great surprise to anyone if "Rudolph, you red-nosed reindeer" becomes the call of the wild this season. Tyrell's rendition of the title song, Clyde Otis and Brook Benton's gorgeous "This Time of the Year," already getting a lot of air play last Christmas and bound to be even more popular this year, is sure to be evergreen. Tyrell swings "Let It Snow" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas;" he gets low-down with "Merry Christmas, Baby" and "The Christmas Blues;" he romps joyfully through the snow on "Winter Wonderland" and grabs you by the heartstrings with "What Are You Doing New Year's" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas." And he puts the presents under the tree, where they rightfully belong. Even sometimes-sulky Mel Torme would have to approve Tyrell's handling of his treasure, "The Christmas Song." And Gene Autry himself must be grinning and tapping his boot at "Here Comes Santa Claus." As with his two previous albums, A NEW STANDARD and STANDARD TIME, you can count on sparkling arrangements, the most fabulous band, and Steve doing that thing he does with his voice. And the by-now-famous Tyrell smile is evident throughout. You may want to start now and play this album all year. If Steve Tyrell intends to keep improving with every album he records, in the anticipation inherent in the Christmas season, one can hardly wait to see what he's going to do next. So many standards, so little time. One only hopes he makes dozens of albums and that we all live long enough to hear them. Merry Christmas, Steve. You sho did treat us nice.

My favorite Christmas album!:
This cd is so great, we start playing it in September! It's so romantic . Steve Tyrell really gives a new life to Holiday songs; it's certainly doesn't sound commercial ,it might make you feel like dancing in your living room with your special someone !

Best Christmas CD:
I absolutely love Steve Tyrell. His voice is amazing! I started listening to his music last year and have been hooked since! :) Definitely recommend this album. A+++++!

A Commercial Christimas:
Finding out about Steve Tyrell through watching the DVD "Father of the Bride" staring Steve Martin, both me & my wife fell in love with his singing. Right away we ordered his CD's "Standard Time" & "A New Standard" from Amazon.com. Both are fun to listen to & with great production showing off Steve's unique singing voice & style (though you can say he is a little bit of this & a little bit of that. I saw comparisons of Tony Bennet, Dr. John, & Tom Watts???). During this Christmas season (2003) we were looking for Christmas standards & therefore bought this CD. This time around Steve Tyrell's normal great production gets in the way; the background music sometimes over takes his singing, or sometimes the jazz loses the main melody. Another problem is that the songs are on the more Commercial side of Christmas missing the "Real Meaning" behind Christmas. I believe only one song deals with the birth of Jesus (though Jesus may of been born around October & December 25 is right after the solstice "the rebirth of light"). The rest of the songs are about Santa Claus or the season in general. Overall the CD is great for a party, background music, or when you want that something different.

• Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
• Winter Wonderland
• Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
• The Christmas
• Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
• This Time Of The Year
• Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
• I'll Be Home For Christmas
• The Christmas Blues
• Merry Christmas Baby
• What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
• Here Comes Santa Claus