The auditorium of the historic State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ this Thursday, December 6, 2018 features a stage which is set with a grand piano and a large harpsichord facing one another.
There is also a drum set adjacent to an intriguing assortment of percussion instruments including wind chimes, a gong, and electronic percussion.
Center stage, acoustic and electric guitars stand.
The left side of the stage has chairs set up for string and wind instrument players, and the right side has chairs at the ready for brass players.
Lastly, the auditorium is filled with music lovers filled with anticipation, waiting to experience one of America’s favorite holiday traditions for the past three decades — a live performance of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis!
Chip Davis is a former teacher and jingle writer who is the creative force behind Mannheim Steamroller. Born in Ohio, Chip began piano lessons at the age of four, and he composed his first piece of music at age six.
Davis founded Mannheim Steamroller in 1974. When the group’s first album, Fresh Aire, was turned down by the major record labels, Davis founded what turned out to be the music industry’s largest independent recording label, American Gramaphone, and released the album himself. Altogether, Mannheim Steamroller released eight Fresh Aire albums, and as a result of his work, Davis is largely credited with establishing the new age genre of music.
Davis and Mannheim Steamroller released their first Christmas album, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, in 1984. Since then, with more than 28 million Christmas albums sold, Davis has become the #1-selling Christmas artist of all time, with Elvis Presley coming in at a distant 17 million holiday records sold.
Now in its 34th year of touring, the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas show consists of two touring companies — the “Red Tour” which performs on the West Coast, and the “Green Tour” which performs on the East Coast. Although he no longer travels with either group, Davis, 71, still continues to compose, arrange, and record for Mannheim Steamroller.
The lights dim in the beautiful State Theatre auditorium. As a recording of Bach’s “Aire on a G String” plays, “Green Tour” performers — Becky Kia Mills on violin, Jed Moss on piano and synthesizer, Andrew Malaschock on bass, Edward Berry on harpsichord and synthesizer, Logan Penington on drums, and Roxanne Layton on recorder and percussion — take their places on stage. Joining them is a live orchestra comprised of musicians on string, woodwind, and brass instruments. Red and green lights shine through the fog as the audience quiets.
A video on the large screen behind the musicians shows the take off of the Discovery space shuttle. The entire theater rumbles to the sound of the launch as the musicians perform “Escape from the Atmosphere,” a twelve-minute new age piece from Mannheim Steamroller’s Music of the Spheres. An ethereal accompaniment to visions from space, the composition features such natural instruments as violin, viola, and cello along with electronic drums and synthesizers. The music is highlighted with lights of changing colors and moods.
Following avid applause, the audience is greeted by Mannheim Steamroller founder Chip Davis on the big screen who welcomes the audience to tonight’s performance, announcing, “In 1984, I wanted to do a Christmas album, and we are still the #1 Christmas tour!”
To underscore the success of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, images of Christmas tours past — along with the famous places and people they have performed with — appear on screen as the group plays a rockin’ rendition of Chip Davis’ iconic Mannheim Steamroller arrangement of “Deck the Halls.”
The group follows up with a flowing and legato rendition of “We Three Kings” which features recorder, violin, oboe, and a harpschord part performed by Mannheim Steamroller keyboardist Edward Berry.
Recorder and percussion player Roxanne Layton introduces the band to the New Brunswick crowd stating, “You have a beautiful theater here full of history. We can feel the energy of the past performers!”
White lights stream and swirl over the stage and out into the audience as Mannheim Steamroller performs a sequenced, percussive rendition of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” which ends in a cascade of gold streaming light.
Snowdrops stream down behind the musicians and lights swirl and strobe as peaceful images of snow-covered nature scenes appear on screen to a performance of the appealing and rhythmic “Catching Snowflakes on Your Tongue.” Then, the group segues into a soft, sweet, and gentle arrangement of “Away in a Manger.” Gold lighting illuminates the musicians onstage in this gentle lullaby which features violin, harpsichord, piano, and orchestra.
Harpsichord and synthesizer introduce a bouncy arrangement of “Let it Snow.” Featuring drums and recorder, lights dance with white snow bouncing on the screen behind them, making audience members feel as if they are inside a shaken snow globe. Once Santa appears on screen and throws a snowball at the audience, “actual” snowflakes fall from the ceiling onto the musicians and audience members!
Accompanied by a video of Santa’s workshop — where elves make old-fashioned wooden toys which come to life as real people — drums and tambourine are featured on “The Little Drummer Boy.” Next, grand pianist Jed Moss starts off playing a touching and peaceful rendition of “O Holy Night.” The arrangement also features Becky Kia Mills on violin, her instrument ringing out clear and true as lighted candles appear on the screen behind her.
For the final piece of Act I, brass is followed by percussion and drums and, later, trumpet and French horn playing a majestic version of “Angels We Have Heard on High.” As the piece progresses, it shifts into a rock number with lights flashing and an image of an angel flying across the screen, planets floating in space, and gold light and angels ascending to the rock beat, all ending in a magnificent flourish!
During intermission, we take a moment to chat with several audience members who share their impressions of the Mannheim Steamroller Christmasshow thus far.
Comments Kathy from Edison, “This is the third time we’re seeing Mannheim Steamroller Christmas — we just wanted to see it again — we really love it,” before adding, “and we have all the CDs, as well!”
Kathy’s husband, Gene, adds, “I am thoroughly enjoying this show! I can’t keep my feet still — and there are excellent visuals to go along with the music, too!”
Kathy agrees, acknowledging, “My head’s been bopping the whole time!”
Grace from Skillman — who tells us she is “6 and 3/4 years old” — says, “This show is really good! We have a lot of the CDs, but this is my first time seeing the group in person.”
Grace’s grandfather, Joe from Skillman, reveals, “We’ve been coming to see Mannheim Steamroller for thirty years.”
Joe’s wife, Kathy, explains, “I first heard Mannheim Steamroller at my hairdresser’s. The first time I saw them perform live was in an outdoor concert in Philadelphia’s Fairmont Park, and Chip Davis was actually there. It was beautiful,” adding, “Since then, we’ve been coming to the Christmas show, and have seen it over a dozen times.”
The auditorium lights dim and electronic drums and harpsichord introduce Mannheim Steamroller’s first selection of Act II, a space-age version of “Joy to the World.”
A highlight of the evening follows with a video of Chip Davis’ daughter, Elyse, rehearsing in a recording studio in Omaha, Nebraska, and then singing an intensely rhythmic rendition of “Greensleeves” on a stage in Mexico. With the live musicians playing to Elyse’s recorded voice, the audience gets caught up in the African-sounding rhythms as well as Edward Berry’s sprightly harpsichord countermelody.
Following a light-hearted arrangement of “Feliz Navidad,” the group performs a rockin’ version of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” As a video of people horseback riding through the woods flickers on screen, the sound of a French horn is featured before a rhythmic harpsichord and piano interlude, and several audience members can even be seen dancing in their seats on this crowd pleaser which elicits large applause!
Changing the mood, Mannheim Steamroller performs “Christmas Lullaby,” a lovely piece which features recorder, harpsichord, and oboe. As they play, images of a yule-log fireplace surrounded with toys, a Christmas tree, and snow covered trees outside a window appear on screen and “snow” gently falls from the ceiling onto the audience. Drummer Logan Penington is spotlighted as he plays a delicate toy piano at the conclusion.
On “Four Rows of Jacks,” Edward Berry rocks out on the harpsichord as the audience is treated to a video tribute to Chip Davis’ father, Louie Davis, known for building his own harpsichord. Images of color accompany a new age electronic music version of “Tocatta” which includes siren sounds, harpsichord, and recorder. As in baroque music — where compositions often alternate between a small group of players known as a “concertino” and a large group called the “ripieno” — this piece alternates in terms of its instrumentation. It also alternates with regards to time signatures as spotlights spin on this unique and energetic arrangement which highlights percussive sequenced sounds.
Opening with ocean waves and dolphins swimming and talking, recorder and piano are featured along with harpsichord flourishes on “Come Home to the Sea.” The music is sweeping and dramatic, and the ringing sound of the large gong illuminates video of ancient ruins as smoke rises from the stage and the music crescendos and swells.
Another highlight of the show is “Fairies” — a synthesized version of “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies” from Tchaikovky’s The Nutcracker which features funky bass, precision drumming from Logan Penington, and the rest of the orchestra energetically joining in as lights flash.
Synthesizers swirl and the bass rumbles on “Hallelujah,” Mannheim Steamroller’s rock version of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” As horns trumpet, synchronized lights dance to the music, the arrangement building with full orchestra and steamrolling over the audience with a crescendo of sound!
On a sequenced rock version of “Good King Wenceslas,” lights swirl as keyboardists Jed Moss and Edward Berry channel the rock group, Toto, with their dueling synthesizer gymnastics. Moss is even a featured vocalist on the coda as he rhythmically sings, “Good King Wenceslas looked out/On the feast of Stephen/When the snow lay round about/ Deep and crisp and even,” after performing on the grand piano.
While silhouette images of dancers fill the screen, the band rocks to Chip Davis’ powerful arrangement of “Carol of the Bells.” Featuring spot-on drumming by Logan Penington, the piece continues to build and auto-tuned vocals can be heard on the “Hark how the bells/Sweet silver bells/All seem to say/Throw cares away” interlude. Ending to cheers and applause, the Mannheim Steamroller musicians bow together center stage to a standing ovation!
The audience continues to react until the group returns for an encore of “Silent Night.” Featuring pianist Jed Moss, bassist Andrew Malashock, and drummer Logan Penington on vocal “oohs” to harpsichord and piano accompaniment, this beautiful arrangement shifts to feature Becky Kia Mills playing the lovely melody on her violin. Soon, Roxanne Layton’s jingle bells and their Christmasy sound float over the audience, providing a poignant ending to a memorable performance!
While audience members make their way out of the State Theatre auditorium and into the lobby for a meet-and-greet with the band, we take a moment to chat with Mannheim Steamroller’s recorder and percussion player, Roxanne Layton. Remarks Layton, “This really is a beautiful theater! The acoustics are great, and the audience is so warm — we’re really looking forward to meeting everyone after the show.”
In the lobby, we chat with several members of the crowd including Alex from New Brunswick, who says, “Mannheim Steamroller was wonderful tonight — we listen to all of their albums, and their music never gets old.”
Alex’s sister, Evelyn of Warren Township, agrees adding, “We’ve seen them several times and they always put on a great show.”
Alex and Evelyn’s father, Andy of Warren Township, says, “This was my fourth time seeing Mannheim Steamroller. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I love their unconventional instrumentation of synthesizer and period instruments,” before noting, “And I especially enjoy getting to see them here at the State Theatre — it’s a wonderful venue for all sorts of great concerts.”
Karen from Piscataway comments, “Mannheim Steamroller was wonderful,” adding, “I especially liked Elyse Davis’ on-screen rendition of ‘Greensleeves.’ It was different and really interesting — I’m looking forward to hearing more of her songs.”
Lastly, we chat with Mark from Piscataway who says, “Up until now, I wasn’t really sure if I was ready for this Christmas season, but after hearing Mannheim Steamroller tonight, I can tell you one thing for certain — this concert put me in the holiday spirit!”
To learn more about Mannheim Steamroller, please go to mannheimsteamroller.com. For information on upcoming performances at New Brunswick’s State Theatre — including Stomp on January 11 and 12, 2019, John Mellencamp on February 23, 2019, and Art Garfunkel on March 15, 2019 — please go to stnj.org.
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