Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Lost Christmas Eve

The story of Trans-Siberian Orchestra's third christmas CD deals with angels visiting New York City, which gives the rock group with orchestra and chorus a chance to draw upon a wide variety of modern music. The jaunty "Christmas Nights in Blue" sounds like Louis Jordan had some influence and is the coolest moment the orchestra has ever offered, while the driving "Christmas Jam" is Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein" with some sleigh bells. Not that the group was ever "traditional," but the songs here sound less influenced by the old christmas standards, and they're generally more fun and uplifting. The quiet numbers are delicate and beautiful and there are a number of them in the album's fourth quarter. The problem with the album is it's nearly choked with too much material with a great number of the songs just here to move ahead the story. That's when the album gets too emotive, too forced, and too Electric Light Orchestra without Jeff Lynne. Good new is, whittle out the dreck and you've still have plenty left to enjoy. Even though it won't win them any new fans, The Lost Christmas Eve is rumored to be an "end of the trilogy" album. If so, the trilogy ends with a big, theatrical bang and Trans-Siberian Orchestra fans wouldn't have it any other way. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Pitrelli Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm), Keyboards Alex Skolnick Guitar Allie Sherudan Choir, Chorus Amy Helm Soloist, Whistle (Human) Andrew Hill Choir, Chorus Angus Clark Guitar Bart Shatto Choir, Chorus Bashawn Moore Choir, Chorus Ben Sanders Assistant Engineer Benjamin Cole Choir, Chorus Bob Grannatt Assistant Engineer Caleb Eboch Choir, Chorus Carmine Giglo Keyboards Cedar Georgevich Choir, Chorus Charles Harbour Assistant Engineer Chris Caffery Guitar Daniel "Shaolun" Chen Choir, Chorus Danielle Landherr Choir, Chorus Daryl Pediford Vocals Dave Eggar Strings Dave Wittman Engineer, Insert, Mixing, Bass David Gold Strings David Maliakel Choir, Chorus David Z. Bass Dina Fanai Choir, Chorus Garo Yellin Strings Gary G. Giles Vocals Gretchen Kinkel Soloist, Vocals Guy Lemonnier Choir, Chorus Hiroko Taguchi Strings J. Mark McVey Vocals James Mingo Lewis Vocals Jane Mangini Piano Jason Flom A&R Jeff Allegue Bass Jeff Plate Drums Jennifer Cella Choir, Chorus, Vocals Jill Gioia Choir, Chorus Joe Cerisano Choir, Chorus John Clark Horn John O'Reilly Drums Johnny Lee Middleton Bass Jon Oliva Keyboards, Choir, Chorus, Piano Jonathan Tetelman Choir, Chorus Joshua Ruzansky Assistant Engineer Joslyn Brown Choir, Chorus Katrina Chester Choir, Chorus Kelsey Surdan Soloist, Vocals Kevin Hodge Mastering Kristin Lewis Gorman Choir, Chorus Larry Freemantle Design Latasha Jordon Choir, Chorus Lisa Liu Strings Logan Hill Choir, Chorus Marc McCabe Assistant Engineer Marilyn Villamar Choir, Chorus Mark Wood Strings Marshall Kock Choir, Chorus Martin Flynt Choir, Chorus Martin Shedd Choir, Chorus Mee Eun Kim Keyboards Michael Lanning Vocals, Choir, Chorus Michelle Satris Strings Mike Scielzi Engineer Mike Zinczenko Engineer Natalie Cenovia Cummins Strings Nick Wood Assistant Engineer Paul O'Neill Guitar (Rhythm), Producer Paul Ryder Choir, Chorus Paul Silverstein Pre-Production Peter Day Choir, Chorus Robert Evan Choir, Chorus, Vocals Robert Kinkel Keyboards, Choir Arrangement, Producer, String Arrangements, Choir, Chorus, Engineer, Conductor, Piano Sanya Mateyas Choir, Chorus Stephanie Rice Anderson Choir, Chorus Steve Broderick Choir, Chorus Sylvia Tosun Choir, Chorus Takanori Niida Drums Takeytha Johnson Choir, Chorus Tim Ronaghan Engineer Tommy Farese Choir, Chorus Tristan Avakian Guitar Tucker Wheatley Choir, Chorus Vincent Metallo Music Direction Wendy Eggers Vocals Will Stanley Choir, Chorus