I just recorded this song two days ago. I made up the arrangement and I hope you will all enjoy it. It's always been one of my favorite Christmas songs and this year, I play it for my family and friends and everyone on Piano World:

I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7gbzCgiLFQ&list=UU2GgbTGVIzlXXnu2LlMWwNw&index=2

Please feel free to post comment here and on my youtube page. Thank you for watching and have a very merry Christmas and a very happy and healthy new year!

Candlelightpiano - I really liked your arrangement of this great tune. I prefer it at this slower tempo. Nice ending - a Merry Christmas to you, also.

Thanks, BillM. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Your comments gives me confidence to play around with more arrangements. I'm a newbie at it. I wish you the very best for Christmas and the new year.

I'm just beginning to listen to all the pieces posted on this thread and will post comment on each.

Thanks, Mr Super Hunky for starting this thread. I'm enjoying it very much.

Greener, your Grown up Christmas list was tender and sweet. I liked it very much.

Getting caught up sporadically and some really nice stuff (and ideas) out here.

Very nice arrangement on "I'll be Home for Christmas" Candlelight. Some really nice changes in this, a pretty sound and very competent job. Nicely done. Also, fun to learn about all your cats. Is all that snow from this year already? We've got zip in Toronto.

Thanks, Greener, for your kind comments on my performance and my other videos. We've been dumped upon with snowfall after snowfall. We just received another six inches today. You're lucky you've got zip in Toronto. I wouldn't mind a brown Christmas! It's also been a very cold winter so far here in Winnipeg but I guess they don't call us Winterpeg for nothing!

Kenjazz, I enjoyed all your Christmas numbers. They sound very professional. You don't sound like a beginner at all. I'm trying to learn some jazz piano too so I enjoyed reading your blog about starting jazz from scratch after age 50. Gives me hope!

Very effective nice sounding "What child is this" Ladypayne. It sounds really great. Nice job.

Nice playing TJ. I really like this tune. It is now added to my Christmas list of material to learn. Its very pretty and nicely presented.

The band is sounding great, Jazzwee. Wow, what a terrific front man. A really fantastic voice and polished sound.

Here is one more little Christmas mish/mash. This about completes my Christmas line up, but lots of great ideas now for next year. So, thanks again everyone.

Chistmas Time | O Tannenbaum

As promised (threatened?) here is my second and final Christmas tune.

O Tannenbaum

The blog post

O Tannenbaum blog post

Jeff, Great idea to do these as a medley! These two seem to make a lot of sense as a medley (they were both done by Vince Guaraldi too). You definitely pulled it off. It is hysterical that we both picked the same two songs for Christmas this year...

Thank you candlelighpiano. I really enjoyed your version of I'll be home for Christmas also. The piano setup in your home is gorgeous to match your playing.

Jazzwee - White Christmas - now that guy can sing! I wasn't wild about the arrangement but what a set of pipes - once again the pianist was a standout.

Greener - you have created a quiet, peaceful atmosphere with this fine performance. Very well done.

Kenjazz - loved the vibes - your recordings always blow me away with your pro quality playing and sound production. Even with the cool jazz stylings you still are faithful to the reverential mood of this piece.

LOL Bill. Arrangement? I looked at the Leadsheet 10 seconds before we started. This is all seat of the pants stuff. Completely unplanned. This was not on our set list. In fact, to tell you the truth, I didn't know the guy sang. He just offered to sing and I was blown away. He was playing percussion.

THANK YOU.

Wow! You played so well after six months of piano?!? That was pretty good and I enjoyed the arrangement.

BilLM: What a lovely rendition of White Christmas! So glad you included the prelude before the main lyrics because I didn't know about its existence until I heard you sing it. Now I understand why Irving Berlin dreamed about a white Christmas! You have a gorgeous voice.

Loved your interpretation of the Christmas song, Andy. I liked the ending very much and you have a very nice touch.

TrapperJohn: When I heard you perform Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas last year, I loved it and this year, I love it all over again. You play with a lot of heart. Have yourself a merry little Christmas, too!

Gorgeous video, ladypayne! The haunting melody and accompanying images keep me captivated. How did you create such a video? What software do you use for the video and the music mix?

Great music so far! Love the xmas music. I used windows movie maker for the video and I used Magix music maker for the music part. I also have a midi keyboard that I use along with the music program to create the different instruments. It's much easier using the keyboard than the music program's virtual keyboard. I posted the link below on amazon if you're interested in buying it. This is the version I have.

http://www.amazon.com/Magix-Entertainmen...gix+music+maker

Jazzwee: Really loved The Christmas song. Who was the singer? He has such a beautiful voice and the piano accompaniment was great, too. White Christmas took off a bit slowly but sounded really good once he got going. Who are these singers and are you performing with them? Are you the pianist?

Thank you Candelightpiano. These are members of my band. I'm the pianist and band leader. These tunes were called on the fly. Unrehearsed and never played so that accounts for the rough starts. The singer in these two tunes is the same guy and this was the first time he sang with us. I was very impressed so I'm expecting to use him regularly.

It is such a pleasure to be working with better and better musicians. It's a fantastic goal for ABF'ers to accompany singers like these. It's a great experience.

Such lovely playing and a wonderful arrangement. Bravo!

Kenjazz, I just saw this reference to me. Sorry I didn't see.

Yes -- here's My Favorite Things played on my Steinway (one of the few times I have a recording of it). I didn't realize this is considered a Christmas/Holiday tune since I play it all year round

My Favorite Things
https://www.box.com/s/812fea509585625a35a9

Amazing you made this at 6 months. It's a fine production! Really enjoyed it.

Great stuff! And I am surprised that there was some intro to this that I've never heard of. I just know it from the movie. So in addition to fantastic singing and playing we get a little education

Wonderful Trap. Great playing and a nice contribution to our Christmas spirit!

That was so well done! Amazing work you put into this video including the changing pics. Kudos!

So much fun to listen to Kenjazz! Some hot sax and vibe players there too How much did you pay them? Grand production.