Album Notes

"Stars & Promises Alive" is a follow-up from Mayer's first Christmas album entitled, "Stars and Promises." "Stars & Promises Alive" was recorded live at one of the immensely popular Peter Mayer Christmas concerts of the same name, in Nashville, TN.

This album includes four new original songs: "The Story of Christmas," "Harmony" (which was co-written and performed as a duet with acclaimed songwriter Mac McAnally), "Hey Joseph," and "This Town"; as well as some of the favorites from the original "Stars and Promises" CD. "Stars & Promises Alive" also includes fresh renditions of "Little Drummer Boy," "Angels We Have Heard On High/Carol of the Bells," and "Silent Night."

As with the "Stars and Promises" CD, Mayer adds Native American wood flute, percussion from around the world, and a strings section to his distinctive acoustic guitar performance. The enthusiastic applause heard between songs lets listeners embrace how electrifying the live Christmas performances are.

Included in the CD liner notes is the following message:
"When I told friends I was recording a Live Christmas Concert in September, one joked, 'So what's next, a 4th of July celebration in January?' It was a little crazy to be looking for Christmas trees, decking the halls and rehearsing Christmas tunes out of season, but the Spirit of Christmas defies the norm, breaks the 'rules,' and awakens us in unexpected ways. At 8pm, September 6th, in the Martha Rivers Ingram Hall at Vanderbilt University, among musicians, technicians, video crew, sound crew, and an audience full of friends and fans willing to ring out the bells a little early, we were carried into Christmas: A Star to guide us, a song to remind us, the promises of Christmas were here, alive for any season." Peter Mayer