Joshua Bell - Musical Gifts From Joshua Bell And Friends

preston

Review by Preston Smalley

Musical Gifts From Joshua Bell And Friends: A Holiday Treat That’s More Than Just Eggnog and Tinsel If you’re looking for an album that straddles the line between cozy Christmas vibes and highbrow classical chops, Musical Gifts From Joshua Bell And Friends is your ticket. Released in 2013 on the Masterworks label, this eclectic mix of pop, classical, and holiday cheer feels like someone threw a bunch of genres into a snow globe and shook it until something magical happened. It’s not perfect—sometimes it’s too polished, other times it’s almost aggressively festive—but man, does it deliver some memorable moments. Let’s start with “Amazing Grace,” because how can you not? Featuring Branford Marsalis on saxophone, this track takes the hymn we’ve all heard at least a thousand times and gives it a jazzy twist. The interplay between Bell’s violin and Marsalis’ sax is like watching two old friends argue over who gets to carve the turkey—it’s heartfelt, slightly competitive, and oddly comforting. You’ll find yourself humming along but also thinking, “Wait…is this jazz now?” Spoiler: Yes, kind of. And it works. Then there’s “Nutcracker Medley (feat. Straight No Chaser).” Oh boy. If Tchaikovsky were alive today, he’d probably be equal parts thrilled and confused by what these guys have done to his masterpiece. Straight No Chaser adds their signature vocal harmonies to Bell’s strings, turning the Nutcracker Suite into a rollicking party anthem. It’s as if Clara traded her sugar plum dreams for spiked eggnog and karaoke night. This track sticks out not just because it’s fun, but because it reminds you why collaboration matters—even when worlds collide, magic happens. Of course, no review would be complete without mentioning Gloria Estefan hopping on “Christmas Auld Lang Syne.” Because nothing screams “festive” quite like mashing up New Year’s Eve nostalgia with Christmas cheer. Honestly, I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry during this one—it’s so earnestly over-the-top that it becomes endearing. Plus, Tiempo Libre brings some Latin flair to the mix, which makes you wonder why more holiday albums don’t lean into salsa beats. The album bounces around Europe and the US, pulling influences from chamber music to vocal ballads, making it feel both intimate and sprawling. Tracks repeat occasionally with different arrangements or featured artists, which might annoy purists but honestly feels like running into old friends wearing new outfits. Sure, it’s indulgent, but hey, so is December. In the end, Musical Gifts From Joshua Bell And Friends isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel—it’s just decorating it with fairy lights and ribbons. Is every track groundbreaking? Nope. But it’s charming enough to keep you coming back for another listen, especially when you need background music that won’t make your relatives fall asleep during dessert. Final thought: Listening to this album feels like opening a present only to discover it’s socks—but really nice socks. They’re warm, they fit perfectly, and somehow, weirdly, you’re grateful for them.

Download Joshua Bell - Musical Gifts From Joshua Bell And Friends
Artist: Joshua Bell
Album: Musical Gifts From Joshua Bell And Friends

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: joshua-bell-musical-gifts-from-joshua-bell-and-friends.zip
  • MP3 size: 284.7 mb
  • FLAC size: 2074.8 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Ave Maria (feat. Steven Isserlis)4:13
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen3:11
I Want An Old-Fashioned Christmas3:16
Christmas Confusion4:11
Silent Night (feat. Young People's Chorus of New York City)3:23
I'll Be Home For Christmas3:58
Amazing Grace (feat. Branford Marsalis)4:27
Amazing Grace4:28
Nutcracker Medley3:41
God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman3:11
Christmas Auld Lang Syne3:28
Nutcracker Medley (feat. Straight No Chaser)3:40
Baal Shem~Simchat Torah (Rejoicing)04:48
Ave Maria4:13
Let It Snow (feat. Julian Lage & Rob Moose)3:46
I Want an Old-Fashioned Christmas03:16
The Secret Of Christmas4:55
Baal Shem: Simhat Torah (Rejoicing) [feat. Sam Haywood & Steven Isserlis]4:48
O Tannenbaum (feat. Joshua Bell)3:54
Let It Snow3:46
O Holy Night (feat. Kristin Chenoweth)3:6
The Secret of Christmas04:54
White Christmas4:08
Christmas Confusion (feat. Aleksey Igudesman & Richard Hyung-Ki Joo)4:11
Christmas Aude Lang Syne3:28
I'll Be Home for Christmas03:58
White Christmas (feat. Chris Botti)4:7
The Secret of Christmas (feat. Michael Feinstein)4:54
Greensleeves4:18
I Want an Old-Fashioned Christmas (feat. Renée Fleming)3:16
Silent Night3:24
O Tannenbaum3:55
I'll Be Home For Christmas (feat. Frankie Moreno)3:58
O Holy Night3:06
Baal Shem - Simchat Torah (Rejoicing)4:49
Nutcracker~Medley03:40
Christmas Auld Lang Syne (feat. Gloria Estefan & Tiempo Libre)3:28
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (feat. Alison Krauss)3:10
Greensleeves (feat. Chick Corea)4:18

Images

baixar álbum Joshua Bell - Musical Gifts From Joshua Bell And Friends
last ned album Joshua Bell - Musical Gifts From Joshua Bell And Friends
Album herunterladen Joshua Bell - Musical Gifts From Joshua Bell And Friends
descargar álbum Joshua Bell - Musical Gifts From Joshua Bell And Friends
ladda ner album Joshua Bell - Musical Gifts From Joshua Bell And Friends
lataa albumi Joshua Bell - Musical Gifts From Joshua Bell And Friends

Catalog Numbers

  • 88883-74318 2
  • 88883762832

Labels

Masterworks

Listen online

  • lytte på nettet
  • lyssna på nätet
  • écouter en ligne
  • ouvir online
  • online anhören
  • ascolta in linea
  • kuunnella verkossa
  • escuchar en línea
  • online luisteren

Formats

  • CD
  • Album

Barcodes

  • Barcode: 88883-74318-28
  • Barcode (Text): 8 8883 76283-2 7

About Joshua Bell

American violinist virtuoso and conductor. Born December 6, 1967, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.

Real Name

    • Joshua David Bell

Name Vars

  • Bell
  • ¸ç·å¢ûÙë

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know that Joshua Bell's *Musical Gifts From Joshua Bell And Friends* is like a holiday music party with a twist? Released in 2013, it blends classical, pop, and Christmas vibes, featuring a star-studded lineup. You’ve got Gloria Estefan adding Latin flair to “Christmas Auld Lang Syne,” Kristin Chenoweth lending her angelic voice to “O Holy Night,” and even Chick Corea jazzing up “Greensleeves.” It’s not just your typical holiday album—there’s chamber music, vocal duets, and even a quirky track called “Christmas Confusion.” The album feels like a musical gift that keeps on giving, with something for everyone.