Pamela Howland is a gifted pianist who breathes life and vitality into music for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Her CDs reflect her eclectic tastes, from standard solo classical music to Christmas tunes, and African-American spirituals to the combination of French music and poetry. She has performed extensively in the United States and has also been featured in Paris, Vienna, and Colombia, South America. Currently she teaches at Wake Forest University, and is pleased to release her 4th Christmas disc, showcasing her first collection of original arrangements

ChristmasReview.Com has this to say about Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

Seriously, the stunning Pamela Howland is a Christmas music machine, and I mean that in a very positive way. In past reviewing seasons, I have written about three of her seasonal releases--all excellent (Lo, How a Rose, Carols for a Blue Christmas, & December Classics). Howland's holiday legacy of lovely piano instrumentals continues with Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, a loving tribute to the artist's mother, who gave birth to talented Pamela on Christmas Eve.

Howland is an outstanding pianist, both in terms of technical craftsmanship and emotional content. She plays with warmth and a light, expressive touch. All ten tracks are familiar Christmas chestnuts; Howland's timeless arrangements are relatively straightforward and comfortably traditional. The recording reflects some reverb, creating fuller depth, and the acoustics are first-rate.

Although Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is somewhat short (only 26 minutes), the time is very well spent, and the album is priced appropriately ($10). The music is nostalgic, beautifully crafted, and exquisite in its simplicity. The release overflows with fine touches. For example, Howland's cascading runs near the end of Infant Holy (Polish Carol) add complexity and drama, and her Fum, Fum, Fum/Pat a Pan medley fires brilliantly on all cylinders. My favorite track is probably I'll Be Home for Christmas; how does Howland pack so much sentiment into an instrumental?

Bravo, Pamela Howland, you have done it again! Here's wishing you--and all of you--a merry Christmas surrounded by those you love.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2008)

See this review on the originating Web site.

		VIDEO: Click to watch Pamela perform Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, We Three Kings, and Fum, Fum, Fum. Courtesy of WDAV and vimeo.com.
		READ: Classy Cheer, Pianist's Christmas CD Freshens the Familiar by Ken Keuffel on journalnow.com.