Bethlehem After Dark

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Butch Thompson's piano playing and Laura Sewell's cello work combine in an unusual album of sparse yet complete reinterpretations of known and less familiar hymns, carols, and, given Thompson's renown as one of the nation's leading stride pianists, rags. Add Sewell's acclaimed reputation as the founder of the Lark Quartet and you have a dynamic and quite original series of Christmas duets. The ivory master gets to show off some of his delightful prowess in such tunes as "Joy to the World," "At the Christmas Ball" (the old Bessie Smith knockout), the "Reindeer Rag," and "Snowy Mountain Blues." But in arrangements that feature Sewell's warm and steadfast cello playing (her "Ave Maria" lead is achingly beautiful), both musicians seem to drive the other for the most splendid results. The delicacy of carols such as "Lo, How a Rose," or the sweet essence of "Softly and Tenderly" against an almost blessed existential reading of "I Wonder as I Wonder," and the down-home feeling of James P. Johnson's "Snowy Morning Blues" make all these tunes sound freshly minted. These two make beautiful music together, with pieces to please both lovers of serious chamber music and devotees of barroom blues. --Martin Keller

Tracks:

Bethlehem After Dark
I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
In The Upper Garden/Only A Look
Reindeer Rag
I Wonder As I Wander
Angels We Have Heard On High
At The Christmas Ball
Lo, How A Rose
Joy To The World
Carol Of The Birds
Softly And Tenderly
Snowy Morning Blues
Coventry Carol
Ave Maria

Amazon.com

Butch Thompson's piano playing and Laura Sewell's cello work combine in an unusual album of sparse yet complete reinterpretations of known and less familiar hymns, carols, and, given Thompson's renown as one of the nation's leading stride pianists, rags. Add Sewell's acclaimed reputation as the founder of the Lark Quartet and you have a dynamic and quite original series of Christmas duets. The ivory master gets to show off some of his delightful prowess in such tunes as "Joy to the World," "At the Christmas Ball" (the old Bessie Smith knockout), the "Reindeer Rag," and "Snowy Mountain Blues." But in arrangements that feature Sewell's warm and steadfast cello playing (her "Ave Maria" lead is achingly beautiful), both musicians seem to drive the other for the most splendid results. The delicacy of carols such as "Lo, How a Rose," or the sweet essence of "Softly and Tenderly" against an almost blessed existential reading of "I Wonder as I Wonder," and the down-home feeling of James P. Johnson's "Snowy Morning Blues" make all these tunes sound freshly minted. These two make beautiful music together, with pieces to please both lovers of serious chamber music and devotees of barroom blues. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews:

Calming music.......2001-11-13

This CD fills the bill for calming Christmas music. Play it while sitting in traffic, Running the never ending errands or after a hard day's work. It will help to soothe you and remind you about what Christmas is really about.

A Little Night Music.......2001-10-19

Here's some warm and calming music to enjoy on a cold December evening.

As with the velvet/sandpaper combination of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, the pairing of classical cellist Laura Sewell with ragtime piano king Butch Thompson seems unlikely at first, but turns out to work beautifully because the two musicians show so much selfless respect for each other's work as the alternate leading and supporting each other.

For a two piece band with no over-dubs or electronic effects, it's amazing how many musical colors not associated with Christmas - stride, ragtime, blues and gospel - these two can evoke on familiar pieces such as "Angels We Have Heard on High", but the most moving and effective pieces are the least Christmasy: a lovely and understated "Ave Maria", an elegant and soothing "Softly and Tenderly" and a subtle, gorgeous take on the hymn "Lo, How a Rose". This is music which evokes the calm and stability of a 19th century Quaker meeting house.

This would be perfect music to decorate a Christmas tree to, or better yet, to play as you put the presents under the tree on Christmas Eve after the kids have gone to bed. It's lovely, music unique, calming and serene.

Music:

Music

Music