Noel

Performer: Josh Groban
Engineer: Trent Walker; Jochem van der Saag; Humberto Gatica; Sean Adams; Jorge Vivo
Producer: David Foster
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Personnel: Josh Groban (piano); Dean Parks, Andy McKee (guitar); Lucia Micarelli (violin); Jochem van der Saag (programming); Richard Page (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Humberto Gatica. Recording information: Chartmaker Studios; EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England; Rak Studios; Westlake Audio. Directors: Bill Ives; Kirk Franklin; Craig Jessop. Photographer: Frank Ockenfels. Unknown Contributor Role: London Symphony Orchestra. Arrangers: William Ross ; E. Taylor; Josh Groban; Kirk Franklin; Brad Dechter. Only his fourth studio album, NOEL finds Josh Groban already tackling that canonical mainstay of the adult contemporary singer, the Christmas album. As always, NOEL is a masterfully performed set, balanced neatly between pop standards and the more operatic material that showcases Groban's roots. Interestingly, he sounds best on the most familiar holiday standards, like "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song," both of which he invests with casual, jazzy phrasing, providing a welcome disinclination for the usual Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby homages that many other young singers in the style fall into. Even this early into his career, Groban clearly has a deeply held sense of who he is as a singer and interpreter, and this lovely collection is proof that he's one of the most exciting adult contemporary stars to appear in ages.

Part of a wave of classical-pop crossover artists around the turn of the century (Charlotte Church, Bond, Andrea Bocelli), Josh Groban achieved massive worldwide success straight out of the gate with his 2001 debut album. In fact, he veers considerably closer to pop than the aforementioned artists (can you picture Andrea Bocelli tackling Ultravox's "Vienna?"), but maintains enough of a classical/opera comportment and flavoring to appeal to stragglers on either side of the fence. His photogenic appearance and acting experience don't hurt his popularity either.

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25