The Gift

by Jon Secada

Overview

Jon Secada took a traditional approach to this Christmas album, hiring a 60-piece orchestra to play Jose Antonio Molina's lush arrangements and recording live with it. Tradition also rules much of the song list, with favorites like "Silent Night" (in English and Spanish versions) and "O Come All Ye Faithful" turning up. Secada has taken the liberty of including a couple of originals that probably won't become standards, though he doesn't embarrass himself. This is a pretty somber set for the most part, perhaps more appropriate for late on Christmas Eve than Christmas morning, but it's well-sung and the arrangements add new elements here and there without varying much from the familiar. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	08/29/2005
Label:	Sony Music Distribution
UPC:	0079899435729
Rank:	14338

Tracks

1. Overture/A Cradle in Bethlehem
2. O Come All Ye Faithful
3. Silent Night
4. Joy to the World
5. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Resting on an Open Fire)
6. When I Miss You Most
7. The Christmas Gift I Want
8. O Holy Night
9. Cuando el Tiempo Nos Castiga
10. Noche de Paz

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jon Secada   Primary Artist
Lee Levin   Drums
Jose Antonio Molina   Conductor
Joe Barati   Trombone
Dan Warner   Guitar
Carole Cole   Violin
Jeffrey Meyer   French Horn
Yang Xi   Viola,Violin
Claudio Jaffe   Cello
John DiPuccio   Violin
Sania Derevianko   Violin
Joan Faigen   Violin
Robert Weiner   Oboe
Steve Svensson   Viola
Yein Hung   Violin
Rochelle Skolnick   Violin
Deena Shapiro   Viola
Geoffrey Bowater   Double Bass
Gary Mayone   Percussion
Jeff Kaye   Trumpet
Tim Barnes   Viola
Karen Dixon   Flute
Margaret Schubert   Timpani
Gustavo Correa   Violin
Huifang Chen   Violin
Gennady Aronin   Violin
Scott Flavin   Violin
Denise Stillwell   Violin
Leonid Sigal   Violin
John David Smith   French Horn
Rafael Elvira   Violin
Ross Harbaugh   Cello
Michael Degregorio   Bassoon
David Pharris   Clarinet
Mei Mei Luo   Violin
Keith Aleo   Percussion
Luciano Magnanini   Bassoon
John Kricker   Trombone
Ed Calle   Saxophone
Alfredo Oliva   Violin
Michael Levine   Keyboards
David Cole   Cello
Scott O'Donnell   Viola
Lee Levine   Drums
Orlando J. Forte   Violin
Debra Spring   Viola
Chris Glansdorp   Cello
Jeanne Tarrant   Flute
Julio Hernandez   Bass
Richard Bravo   Percussion
Dana Teboe   Trombone

Technical Credits

Jose Antonio Molina   Arranger,Producer,String Arrangements
Dan Warner   Arranger,Composer
Robert Wells   Composer
Steve Menezes   Studio Coordinator
Kurt Berge   Technical Support
Ken Theis   Assistant Engineer
Andy Pechenik   Technical Support
Andrew Melick   Photography
Mario Vergel   Stylist
Alfred Bryan   Composer
Lowell Mason   Composer
Bob Ludwig   Mastering
Isaac Watts   Composer
Tony Mardini   Mixing,Mixing Assistant
Hugo Boss   Wardrobe
Eugenio Vanderhorst   Calligraphy
Marc Stephen Lee   Assistant Engineer
Freddy Pinero, Jr.   Engineer
Kevin Dillon   Studio Coordinator
Rachel Perry   Composer
John Sullivan Dwight   Composer
Triana DOrazio   Packaging Manager
Kevin Apple   Hair Stylist
Eric Schilling   Mixing,Engineer
Willy Perez-Feria   Composer
Alex Caballero   Technical Support
John Reading   Composer
Larry Stock   Composer
Emilio Estefan, Jr.   Composer,Producer
Franz Gruber   Composer
Joseph Mohr   Composer
Jon Secada   Composer,Producer
Jorge Gonzalez   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Mel Torme   Composer
Adolphe Adam   Composer
Michael Levine   Arranger,Composer,Rhythm Arrangements
John Francis Wade   Composer
Gian Marco   Composer
Frederick Oakeley   Composer