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LA Times Review
"In the Swing of Christmas" (Hallmark) * * * (Highest Rating)

"Barry Manilow" and "swing" aren't terms typically found in the same sentence, but the master of mainstream pop balladry surrounds himself with bona fide jazz players here and -- surprise, surprise -- it really does swing. Manilow is nothing if not a gifted arranger, and his treatment of these holiday chestnuts is often inventive and occasionally inspired.

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Billboard
Since Manilow released his previous delightful holiday album A Christmas Gift of Love in 2002, the legendary singer and entertainer became a Las Vegas staple and experienced a pop chart renaissance with his collections of greatest songs of the '50s, '60s and '70s. True to its title, his engaging third Christmas CD is more swinging and jazzy than his other two, which had an interesting musical variety but were definitely more pop. Since his '70s heyday, the singer has done everything from brilliant jazz, big-band, and show tune projects to a fanciful Sinatra tribute, and here he creates unforgettable arrangements of many familiar songs that draw from all of these genres. Texturing his own voice, he creates a Take 6-flavored twist on "Silver Bells," then on "Jingle Bells," mixes a hard driving jazz trio and '40s big band flavored approach with a touch of the whimsy of Barbra Streisand's famous version. His MaD Fusion trio featuring the wild piano improvisations of Matt Herskowitz adds inspired energy to a medley of two songs we've heard a million times but rarely as entertainingly, "Joy to the World"/"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year." Beyond enjoying Manilow's mix of unique jazzy vocal approaches with tender straightforward deliveries (as on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,"), what makes this perhaps his best Christmas disc are a few unexpected song choices: the beautiful "Violets for Your Furs" (best known as a song on Frank Sinatra's legendary 1954 album Songs for Young Lovers); the easy swinging, brass inflected "Toyland," from Victor Herbert's operetta Babes in Toyland, and "Count Your Blessings," the "other song" Irving Berlin wrote for the film White Christmas. Fans of Manilow and Christmas music would pick up this disc even if it was average and prosaic, but the obvious love the artist put into these fresh choices and arrangements makes it one of his most unique and inspired efforts ever. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide

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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
11/22/07
Barry Manilow In the Swing of Christmas (Hallmark) Rating: * * *

Say what you want about Barry Manilow -- he's no slouch when it comes to choosing musicians for the studio. Two jazz trios, one led by pianist Matt Herskowitz, put the swing into Christmas, and Manilow clearly is enjoying himself joining them in these up-tempo versions of holiday favorites. - Karen Carlin

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Seattle Times
By Patrick MacDonald
Seattle Times music critic
In the Swing of Christmas Barry Manilow (Hallmark)

And, boy, does he swing! Manilow really lets loose on this year's exclusive Hallmark Gold Crown Christmas album, available only at Hallmark stores. The opening cut of Silver Bells is arranged to death, with a 26-track vocal, all sung by Manilow. Carol of the Bells/Jingle Bells is over the top, too, but at least it's original. He settles down to deliver fine, straightforward versions of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, O Tannenbaum/Winter Wonderland and a cool and beautiful Christmas Time is Here. A couple of not-really-Christmas tunes, Count Your Blessings and Violets for Your Furs, fit perfectly.

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Philadelphia Daily News
Barry Manilow is this year's star attraction at Hallmark card stores, serving up "In the Swing of Christmas" (Hallmark, B). Like others of the Jewish persuasion (Kenny G, Neil Diamond, Bette Midler, et al) who've gone this route, Barry hangs his ecumenical star on tidings of comfort and joy that all can relate to, from "It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" to "Count Your Blessings." And he warms up even the stalest of chestnuts like "The Christmas Song" and "Carol of the Bells/Jingle Bells" with breezy, jumping, jazz-flecked vocal and piano-centric backing trio arrangements in the Tony Bennett bag.

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The Entertainment Report
11/2/07 FOR THE RECORD
In the Swing of Christmas (Hallmark)

More than a few "Fanilows" got peeved when we dissed his last CD. Now they can rejoice. Hallmark is giving fans something to swing and sing about with the exclusive Hallmark Gold Crown Christmas CD In the Swing of Christmas. Manilow personally selected all 10 songs for this special album that he co-produced and arranged. The CD features traditional American songs flavored with some Manilow surprises, including his exclusive rendition of "Silver Bells," featuring 26 background vocals – all recorded by Manilow! There are also cuts with two jazz trios, and when we bumped into Barry he reminded us (ever-so-nicely) that "my concept was small, sexy, romantic. I wanted an album that you can play all through the Christmas season." We always knew that somewhere down the road, he would come through. Again.

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Detroit News
11/24/07
Every year, several dozen artists and record labels figure there simply aren't enough renditions of "Silent Night," so they decide to release new Christmas CDs, in hopes cash registers will ring like sleigh bells.

Of this year's harvest, some are worthy (see Josh Groban, Raul Malo), some aren't (hiya, Rick Springfield and you cursed Kidz Bop Kids), and some we couldn't even get through (sorry, Larry the Cable Guy -- we'll try again next year).

With that, here is our annual holiday CD roundup. Pa rum pa pum pum. Holiday harmonies: Add some new tunes to your yuletide mix
- Adam Graham and Susan Whitall

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- Barry Manilow says that, unlike other artists who find it boring to record holiday albums, on his new collection In the Swing of Christmas he had a blast rearranging his favorite Christmas classics for the Hallmark chain of stores.

"Hallmark wanted their own Christmas album. You know, it's my favorite thing to do, I'm an arranger and I love taking songs from the past and finding another facet, or a different angle. One of my favorite things to do, (is) to take a song that everybody knows, like 'Jingle Bells' and turn it on its head! And still keep the integrity of the song, but just make it very interesting and fresh. So when they offered it to me, I just jumped at it. I just loved doing that kind of thing."

He is joined by MaD Fusion, a trio led by pianist Matt Herskowitz on some tracks and The Randy Kerber Trio on others. Manilow allows his love for the music of the holiday season to shine bright throughout In the Swing of Christmas. His rousing version of “Jingle Bells” will have you singing along, while his touching interpretation of Irving Berlin’s “Count Your Blessings,” may make you stop and think about the meaning of the season.

Background: The Grammy-winning Manilow has sold 75 million records in his 30-year career and produced 16 No. 1 hits, including ``Mandy,'' ``I Write The Songs'' ``Looks Like We Made It'' and ``Copacabana.''

Recording sessions: The songs for the new CD were recorded in early May in Las Vegas. Despite the palm trees and warm weather, the band members were very excited about the material on the first day of recording -- perhaps too excited. Manilow decided to record several of the songs again to get a cooler vibe, said band member Matt Herkowitz, who plays piano.

Comments: ``There were some Christmas decorations in Barry's singing booth, but that was it,'' Herkowitz said. ``This actually helped me a little to get into the Christmas spirit for the first few takes, but really once we started playing the tunes it wasn't hard.''

Grade: A. The CD may have only 10 songs, but the songs are high-quality with a style that effectively appeals to a wide variety of tastes, something that is challenging for any artist to pull off. It leads off with an a cappella version of ``Silver Bells'' that features 26 vocals, all recorded by Manilow.

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