Earlier this year, (2012) Jeff Stice released a piano solo project that featured just the piano – no background music.  He said he had so much fun with it, that he recorded another one!  Only this one is a Christmas CD!

Read Jeff’s own words from the inside cover…

“Mother knows best!  When my mom suggested that I make a CD with no background music (ME AND A PIANO), I had no idea it would become my favorite.  So…I thought I would tackle some Christmas music with just a piano too!  Here are 10 of my favorite “feel good” Christmas songs.  So get the decorations out, trim up the tree and put this in your CD player and just maybe I can get you in The Christmas Mood with just a piano!” ~ Jeff

Track List:
1.  Christmas Time Is Here
2.  Let It Snow!  Let It Snow!  Let It Snow!
3.  I’ll Be Home For Christmas
4.  Sleigh Ride
5.  The First Noel
6.  Deck The Halls
7.  You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch
8.  Counting My Blessings
9.  My Favorite Things
10.  Auld Lang Syne

Highlights:  Christmas Time Is Here, I’ll Be Home For Christmas, Auld Lang Syne and Counting My Blessings have that classic piano feel that you hear in slower piano solos.  They’re soft and very melodic.  The First Noel is also a slow Christmas carol, but it has a “churchy” sound to it that I really enjoyed and caught my attention.  Some of my favorite tracks from the CD are Let It Snow!  Let It Snow!  Let It Snow!  Sleigh Ride, Deck The Halls and My Favorite Things.  I love how the melody goes into the bass in Let It Snow!  Let It Snow!  Let It Snow! – and adds a little Jazz with a trill ya’ll just have to hear!  Sleigh Ride has always been a favorite of mine too!  I enjoyed the simplicity in Jeff’s rendition – transposing into a minor key at about 1:00 was brilliant!   Speaking of minor keys, track nine, My Favorite Things, begins in a minor key.  This little change gave the song a new sound that’s so enjoyable!  I’d also like to point out the delicate runs on Deck The Halls – and though I’m not a big fan of the song You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch, I can easily listen to Jeff’s arrangement!  It’s so fun!  It’s also the only track that fades out at the end…

Conclusion:  This recording really did master the “Christmas Mood!”  When I think of Christmas music, I hear choirs and orchestras in my head, but Jeff Stice has proven that a piano is more than capable of keeping the listener attracted to the music with just one instrument.  Each arrangement has something different within, yet keeps it simple and “Christmassy.”  Jeff also keeps the traditional/original sound of each piece, but expect to hear a little Jazz chord or Blues style every now and then that shows a modern touch to the songs…when you hear it, you’ll see how perfectly it fits!  Also, what I really, really loved about this project was that the songs on it vary from most of the ones that you will hear on any other Christmas CD recorded by a SGM artists.  I guarantee it’s unique.  If you like Christmas music – I recommend this CD.  If you like piano AND Christmas music – I highly recommend this CD!  So, if you want to go buy it, visit this link -> The Christmas Mood