Tony Alonso’s first Christmas recording has much to offer. The selections include fresh new arrangements of many Christmas favorites plus original material by Alonso, John...

Tony Alonso’s first Christmas recording has much to offer. The selections include fresh new arrangements of many Christmas favorites plus original material by Alonso, John L. Bell, and Liam Lawton. There is also a real “chestnut” among the titles, which may have passed you by. “Child of Light,” by Dan Kantor (composer of GIA’s popular “Night of Silence”), is a delightful quodlibet using the beloved tune greensleeves and featuring a lush string arrangement. This title was published in 1990 but has never appeared on a recorded collection. Other highlights include “From the Cradle to the Cross,” an original carol by Alonso set in a bluegrass style. This haunting text reminds us of the life that Jesus led and modeled for us all. The collection features two songs in Spanish: one a fresh arrangement of the traditional carol “Alegría” and the other a Latin arrangement of “Ding Dong Merrily on High.” John Bell’s new text, “We Do Not Know,” will enlighten your perception of the timeless Christmas story, and Lawton’s soaring refrain found in “Noel, Noel” will stir your soul. Alonso, Bell, Kantor, Lawton—old songs, new songs—English and Español. This is a treasure!