Wonderland: Ted Rosenthal Trio
[PSR#062713]
PERSONNEL
Ted Rosenthal – piano
Noriko Ueda – bass
Tim Horner – drums
TRACKS
1. Winter Wonderland
2. Silent Night
3. Angels We Have Heard On High
4. The Christmas Song
5. Dance Of The Reed Flutes
6. Greensleeves
7. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
8. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
9. Sleigh Ride
10. Let It Snow
11. Snowscape
about
Playscape Recordings is proud to release Wonderland, featuring veteran pianist Ted Rosenthal along with bassist Noriko Ueda and drummer Tim Horner. On Wonderland, his fifth release on Playscape, the veteran pianist and his working trio pay tribute to such holiday classics as Winter Wonderland, Silent Night and Let it Snow among others, giving each a fresh sound and a personal touch. Rosenthal's masterful jazz interpretations of classical music are in evidence with his arrangement of "Dance of the Reed Flutes" from Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite" and a hauntingly beautiful holiday original penned by Rosenthal titled "Snowscape."

"Holiday music is one of the great joys of the holiday season, and I have enjoyed playing holiday songs over the years many times, many ways," says Rosenthal.
 
 
Reviews
"Winter Wonderland" is played with a toe-tapping, finger-snapping verve. After the main melody, the trio goes on a delightful romp. It's the musical equivalent of playing in the snow".
— Woodrow Wilkins, TheJazzWriter
"This is an excellent album. Not an excellent "Christmas album," an excellent album, period. It could become one of the Holiday classics that spin out every year, and gets slipped onto the player in times in between".
— Dan Mcclenaghan, allaboutjazz.com
"Rosenthal has proven time and again, over the course of more than a dozen acclaimed albums, that he has the smarts, chops, and ingenuity to captivate an audience, and he does it again here".
— Dan Bilawsky, allaboutjazz.com
"The band bops like Bud Powell on "Angels We Have Heard on High" and they jaunt through a "Winter Wonderland" and "Let It Snow" with a vigorous stride. You'll have your ears perked up on this one".
— George W. Harris, jazzweekly.com
"I suppose this album could be played as background music for holiday activities, but it deserves close listening for its fine solos and imaginative settings".
— Thomas Cunniffe, jazzhistoryonline.com
"The pianist Ted Rosenthal gets a gorgeously full sound out of ringing chords on "Wonderland", an album just right for the person in your life who's finally beginning to tire of Vince Guaraldi's "Charlie Brown Christmas."
— Nate Chinen, nytimes.com
"This fantastic collection of piano trio renditions of holiday standards will appeal to a wide variety of listeners, making it the perfect album to play at a holiday gathering".
— Bobby Reed, downbeat.com
"For those who like their holiday music sleek, chic and elegant, "Wonderland" takes you there".
— Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune
"Rosenthal's Christmas album transcends the category".
— Doug Ramsey, artsjournal.com
"Rosenthal's "derangements" of holiday classics like "Winter Wonderland," "Greensleeves" and "Silent Night" speak to his expressiveness, authority and daring".
— Carlo Wolff, jazztimes.com
The imagination and creativity that flows from the mind of pianist TED ROSENTHAL through his fingers to a piano keyboard is unlimited. Wonderland (Playscape - 062713) is one of the best Christmas season recordings to come along in many a year. It is both a terrific album for the holiday season, and a great jazz album.
— Joe Lang, Jersey Jazz
...the best pairing of piano jazz and holiday classics since Vince Guaraldi invented the style.
— Chris Spector, Midwest Record