Bryan's Christmas

My first feelings at Christmas. I need to be reminded of where to place my focus.

The Form Of Man - The story of Jesus' birth in layman’s terms and his astonishing purpose for coming.

I wrote this one year at a Christmas banquet that went long. I ran out of songs I knew how to play, so I wrote it backstage on break. It’s mostly about the ‘aftermath’ and the one gift that keeps on giving.

I had to dress this one up for my own taste, it was a standard at every Christmas Eve church service that I remember. Meant to be sung by a cast of 'little angels' in that Christmas pageant.

My own composition. Written about a transcendent moment with one of my kids. Whose words mean more than gifts could ever bring. That card is framed and sitting in my office two decades later.

This was a staple in our Christmas caroling back when it wasn’t dangerous to go door to door singing songs of Joy and Peace throughout the world.

How could I not record the most recorded song of all time at Christmas? But then nothing speaks to tranquility and peace of soul like this song. Here I ‘fancied it up’ for the sake of the project. But the truth is, it’s best song without music at all.

I heard Miles Davis do this on trumpet, a reverently sophisticated presentation of the most world changing event ever. I have no idea of his personal convictions about faith in Jesus. But to tell the story of the beginning of salvation in a jazz format has its own conviction.

Ever wonder what a Heavenly Host might sound like singing? This is the biggest production piece I’ve ever recorded. Using a one hundred voice choir and a live orchestra, it’s movie soundtrack quality but a little hard to pull off on tour on a humble man’s budget.

This song has a lonely feel to it. Perfect for the lack of fanfare that came with the birth of Christ. Just another day to those who were living unaware.

Another of my own compositions, this song came out of my annoyance that many were turning “Merry Christmas” into the generic "Happy Holidays”. Allow me to be dogmatic.