CD Review: Barbara Rose "Christmas CD"

The talented and beautiful Barbara Rose has produced a new "Christmas" CD,  and it's what you expect from Barbara.  It's amazingly good! Barbara Rose's talent is hard to properly describe.  She began her musical life at age 3, attended Julliard and graduated at the age of 10.  By the time she was 17, she was playing and singing in the top night spots in New York City, like The St. Regis Hotel, The Oak Room at the Plaza Hotel, Peacock Alley at TheWaldorf-Astoria Hotel and Tavern on the Green.  Currently, Barbara entertains a large following of fans at the Molly Pitcher Inn in Red Bank, NJ usually on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday for brunch.  Barbara is very much in demand, so if you want to see her, be sure to call ahead to make sure she is appearing. Barbara plays and sings all styles of music from Classic to American Jazz. She is also a fine composer and does all her own arrangements which are always unique and beautiful. Her "Christmas" CD must be heard by everyone who loves the historical music of Christmas.

    Playlist:

1. Winter Wonderland                          2. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
3. Santa Claus is coming To Town      4. Silent Night, Drummer Boy
5. We Need A Little Christmas            6. O Holy Night
7. Carol of Bells, Christmas Medley   8. Blue, White, Toy Land, All is Fair in Love
9. Hark                                                 10. I'll Be Home For Christmas

I have attached two YouTube videos I found I am sure you will love.  The first is Barbara's arrangement of "Carol of the Bells of Christmas Medley" and the second, "Dear Santa" is a tribute to our troops that Barbara wrote, arranged and performed.  Barbara says "I was inspired in 2001 by her prayers for peace and especially in tribute to our troops during the holidays, who continue to fight for freedom in the world.

                               Barbara Rose Playing "Carol of the Bells, Christmas Medley"

                                                Barbara Rose Playing Her Own Composition
                                                                      "Dear Santa'

Barbara Rose is Spectacular At The Molly Pitcher Inn in Red Bank, NJ

Barbara Rose

Thursday evening I went to the newly renovated and beautiful Molly Pitcher Inn in Red Bank, NJ to have dinner and hear pianist extraordinaire Barbara Rose who plays in the bar area,  A long-time close friend of mine, Bill Kennedy had been begging me to hear Barbara Rose whom he claimed was just sensational.  How right he was!  

Barbara Rose began her musical life at age 3 as a prodigy.  I was able to meet Barbara's sister who was sitting at the next table and she shared the following story with me.  Barbara's sister who is four years older, told me that she started taking piano lessons first and had the usually hard time trying to get it right. When Barbara was 3, her parents played a Mozart recording and when it ended, Barbara walked over to the piano, sat down and played the song she had just heard on the piano. 

Barbara attended Julliard and graduated at the age of 10. That's correct, age 10. At 17, Barbara was playing in the best venues in New York City like: The St. Regis Hotel, The Oak Room At the Plaza Hotel, The Oak Room at the Algonquin, Tavern on the Green, and Peacock Alley at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel just to name a few.

Barbara Rose is a "gem" right here in the "Hometown of Count Basie" Red Bank, NJ.  She plays classical pieces, songs from all the best American composers, American Jazz, New Orleans style Jazz, the Best of Broadway and any favorite song you can name. Her arrangements are brilliant, fresh and unique.  When you go to hear Barbara, close your eyes and you can easily image you are sitting listening to a great piano performance in Carnegie Hall. As added bonus is that Barbara also has a uniquely distinctive voice.

Consider these quotes: 

"I have been inspired to produce and write for one other artist in my life before hearing Barbara Rose, and her name was Barbra Streisand" Michel Legrand.

"Barbara Rose has a thousand fingers that dance on your heart and a voice that melts you" The New York Times.

Barbara has a new CD out that you can only buy at her show called "La Vie En Rose".  I have attached a "YouTube" of Barbara playing her  own masterful version of "Bali Hai" and "Some Enchanted Evening" from South Pacific for your listening pleasure. It took me too long to get to hear Barbara, don't make the same mistake and when you get there, tell her the MusicMan sent you. Barbara performs at the Molly Pitcher Inn every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. She also plays at the Sunday brunch starting in October. The food is wonderful and so is the view at the Molly Pitcher Inn and there is no cover or music charge. The bargain of a lifetime for music lovers!

                Barbara Rose Playing "Bali Hai" and "Some Enchanted EveningFrom Her New CD "La Vie En Rose"

                                                                                      As Posted on "YouTube"