¡Ay caramba! As soon as Randall Ames' Christmas Lights and Latin Nights opened, I had to ask myself, "Where's the bull fight?" His Carol of the Bells explodes off the mark with crowd noise, trumpet fanfare, and great percussion accents, all thanks to the magic of software synthesizers and digital recording equipment. Ames is a one-man band, and he cleverly works his way through 13 holiday classics, applying a serious, but playful, Latin slant to every number.
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"Christmas Lights and Latin Nights" by Randall Ames has to be one of the best Christmas CD's in my entire collection. The songs are upbeat and moving. I love this Latin flare of my Christmas favorites with the percussion, brass, rhythm and great guitar. If you are interested in the 
sheet music for this, look up on the internet "Christmas South of the Border". I bought it and am very impressed that his music is also in print. We are playing some of his songs with my band and they are a lot more difficult and fun than the normal holiday songs out there for an 8 piece group. Randall Ames has a knack for great composing and this CD is just awesome. I really like Carol of the Bells, and O Come, O Come, Immanuel for the brass section in my band. You are usually lucky to get 2 good songs on a 
CD, but this entire CD is incredible.
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This CD is by far going to the top of my Christmas collection.   Excellent job on the arrangements.  Randall's admirable talents are certainly among the best I've heard.  He truely has a talent for composing and his upbeat instrumental renditions of the songs are very unique and inspiring.  I especially like the way the Carol of the Bells and Do You Hear What I Hear come alive with the various instruments and rhythms.  Brilliant!
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This CD is so fresh! Not your father's Christmas album, this has great beats, excellent arrangements and it's own unique style. You can put this on during the holidays and it combines a lively, friendly sound with a remembrance of what the holidays are all about. Very nice!
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