New music from Michael Whalen is always a treat and when it’s a new Christmas album, you just know it will be something very special! In his vast catalog of recordings, Michael has contributed to some holiday compilations, but this is his first holiday album under his own name. All ten of the tracks are holiday classics that were reimagined with Michael’s lush sound design and played on a variety of instruments that include synthesizers, acoustic and electric pianos, acoustic and digital percussion and drums, guitars, synth bass, and bass pedals. He also did the synth programming as well as arranging, producing and mixing; Trevor Sadler mastered the recording. A delight from the first note to the last, Heart of the Holidays would be a great addition to anyone's holiday music collection!

The album begins with a spirited arrangement of “Carol of the Bells,” one of my own favorite Christmas pieces. Upbeat and brightly optimistic, instrumentation includes flutes, piano, percussion, bass and more - a great beginning! “Angels We Have Heard On High” has a gentler and more ethereal sound with flutes, synths, piano, bass, and percussion leading the way. “Silent Night” includes chimes, piano/keyboard, strings and washes of synth background sound - very peaceful with just a touch of magic. “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” expresses joy and anticipation with a catchy rhythm behind piano, flute, bells, bass and keyboards. What would a Christmas album be without “Jingle Bells”? Michael’s arrangement is one of the gentler versions I’ve heard, performed with piano, flute, bells, strings and beautiful washes of ambient background sound - very soothing and calming with a bright sparkle of snow and moonlight. “Joy to the World” expresses the kind of joy that brings a tear to your eye and makes you feel very warm inside - the kind of joy that lasts. Keyboards, light hand percussion, flutes, bass, strings and more paint a beautiful picture while creating feelings of serenity and peace. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is another one of my own favorites and lends itself to a wide variety of arrangements, from very peaceful to very upbeat and lively. This one is definitely on the quieter side. Played with flutes and keyboard for the first couple of verses, strings are added to a middle section and then to the end. I love this haunting arrangement! Light and joyful, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” has a strong rhythm that just might get you up and dancing - or at least grooving in your chair! “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” is one of the more orchestrated pieces on the album, performed with a broad variety of instruments, choral voices, and gentle rhythms. It begins simply and gradually builds, bringing in more and more instruments and sounds. I think Beethoven would approve! The album ends with “O Come All Ye Faithful,” an arrangement for piano, electronic rhythms and ambient sounds. Several verses of the melody are played with new transitions between them and a big finish - another great arrangement!

Heart of the Holidays is available from Amazon, Apple Music/iTunes and streaming platforms including Spotify and Pandora. Very highly recommended!