After enjoying a certain amount of success as a recording artist in the late1980’s and 1990’s, I knew it was inevitable Narada, my label during thistime, would ask me to record a Christmas album. I had contributed to severalof their holiday collections including 1985’s Solstice, with Canadianpianist Michael Jones and I equally sharing the spotlight, but the time wasdrawing near for me to step out on my own.I spent several years selecting and arranging my favorite carols, in betweentouring and other recording dates, and then in 1994 my first solo holidayalbum, Christmas Eve, was released. In concert I have referred to thiscollection of well-known carols, with my tongue firmly in my cheek, as“Presbyterian’s Greatest Hits!”There were big changes ahead in the late 90’s as my manager, W.F.Leopold,procured a new contract for me with Decca Records. Then shortly afterleaving Narada in 1999, they released The Christmas Album, culled from alive 1989 holiday concert at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, selectionsfrom Christmas Eve, and several of my non-holiday songs that fit the toneand mood of this collection.The following year I created a new solo piano recording for Decca entitledAngel In My Stocking; holiday music and solo renditions of several piecesfrom my World At Peace Concerto. (From the Grammy nominated East of theMoon.) Angel In My Stocking was originally only available for a one-day sale on ahome shopping cable channel back in 2000. This happened to be on the verysame day as the long awaited announcement of the dramatic Bush/Gorepresidential election results, a day most of us here in the USA were gluedto our televisions, more interested in the counting of the “hanging chads”than in shopping! After this one-day sale, the recording went back on the preverbal shelf.Then in 2004 a limited edition CD of Angel In My Stocking, with a few bonustracks, was created and given a bit more distribution via my website andlive performances, however, it has never been widely available.Now, with five new solo piano holiday pieces, an arrangement of JohnLennon’s classic, Happy Christmas (War is Over), several newly recorded andre-released carols from Angel In My Stocking, and a handful of snowyimprovisations, I am happy to offer you this new holiday music collection.My wish is that this music will help to create a sense of peace andcelebration in your home and add a dash of the true spirit of the season.The spirit of JOY ... the spirit of JOY NOEL~