Imagine a party, a musical party inspired by the holiday season. A party that celebrates the universal hopes, dreams and joy animating seasonal festivals the world over - Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid al-Adha, Kwanzaa, Yule and New Year's Day. That is what brought Yo-Yo Ma together with a remarkable group of friends - some old, some new - to create SONGS OF JOY & PEACE. It is Yo-Yo's hope that everyone who listens to this album will hear a song familiar, comfortable and beloved to them as well as discover and fall in love with music that is brand new.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Truly Joyful
Comment: Yo Yo Ma has done it again. Just a delightful, joyful album. I especially enjoy the collaboration with James Taylor on "Here Comes the Sun", their own version creating a new classic and the several improvisations on Dona Nobis Pacem.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: A nice surprise
Comment: I have always found Yo Yo Ma a consumate artist with taste and charm both personally and musically. Yet, I come to this album with a little trepidation with the various styles and approaches. I was prepared to be happily surprised but cautious in that usually such albums are cuts of half hearted material devlivered just as half heartedly. However, the mix of artists is quite wonderful and each work is a little treasure and a delight to the ear. The video is wonderful to see although a bit contrived. There are wonderful jazzy numbers but also some interesting and quite novel combinations of instruments. So, this was not the disappointment that I had feared. It is new, bright and something wonderful to the ear. You can easy listen but you will be brought to pick up the album package quite often and fulfill the want to know exactly who the guest artist is and find out more about them. Quite a nice surprise.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Yo Yo Ma and friends create a perfect musical holiday
Comment: This is a wonderful compilation of talents! With its underlying theme of Dona Nobis Pacem (Give Us Peace) a number of talented artists sing and play a wideranging variety of sacred and secular music. Some of the music is famililar, some songs are amazing discoveries. All the performances are remarkable. A jig, a carol, a Gregorian chant and a hymn combine to enliven the pleasure of listening to other world music which may be less familiar. Joyful is the best word to describe this album and it is perfect for the holidays.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: I love it, it's not just for the holidays
Comment: There is something so absolutely stirring about the cello to me. I love this cd. It has moments of peace, and moments of fun and I could listen to all day for days. I like Yo Yo Ma's friends and I'm very happy they joined him on this cd.

Alison Krauss is simply haunting on the Wexford Carol. Chris Botti is great on the trumpet and even Joshua Redman, I'm not a big fan of the saxophone, but his song is really beautiful.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Lowest Common Denominator Drivel
Comment: I agree with the other one star reviewers - this album is a huge waste of misplaced talent and an utter waste of time and money

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