Yo-Yo Ma and Friends: Songs of Joy & Peace

First published in New Sunday Times
28th December 2008

Music Review: Yo-Yo Ma and Friends: Songs of Joy & Peace (Sony Music)
MAX KOH



I ALMOST leapt with joy when I saw this album. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma has enlisted some of the most accomplished musicians today — including Edgar Meyer, Chris Botti, Alison Krauss, James Taylor, Chris Thile, Dave Brubeck and Diana Krall — for a holiday album focusing on joy and peace. How could I not be excited?

The songs may not be familiar at first glance, but they sure put you in the spirit with its heart-warming tunes and impeccable musicianship.

From the classical opener Dona Nobis Pacem, Yo-Yo Ma takes you on a wonderful sonic journey through different genres; Celtic (with fiddler Natalie MacMaster on A Christmas Jig), jazz (with Diana Krall on You Couldn’t Be Cuter and Chris Botti on My Favourite Things), bluegrass (with Alison Krauss on The Wexford Carol), Latin (with guitarists Sergio Assad and Odair Assad on Vassourinhas) and Eastern (with the Silk Road Ensemble for Kuai Le).

However, the songs are still tied by a common theme which makes the album a thoroughly enjoyable listening affair as it sheds light on other holidays around the world — Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and so on.

Personal favourites include Yo-Yo Ma with Dave Brubeck on the jazzed-up Joy To The World and the variation of Dona Nobis Pacem with bassist Edgar Meyer and mandolin player Christ Thile.

Songs of Joy & Peace offers lovely compositions. At RM25.90, it’s a great buy.