A few years ago I recorded a piano instrumental disc called “Music For A Small Planet”. Even though the title suggests something to do with Global Climate Warming Change, it was actually a title suggested by a poster I saw in College, when I was young and had hair. I’m re-releasing the tracks from this disc for free in new, remastered form in a few weeks, so pay close attention to these updates if you need new Music To Fall Asleep To.

"This is a great musical statement that should appeal to every sort of Christmas music fan not only because of the excellent performance by Van Oss and the other musicians but how the music is presented through the arrangements and productions." See the whole review here.

Holiday music comes in all flavors. There’s everything from Christmas on Death Row, which is the gangsta rap collection from a label where many on its roster actually did hard time, to God Rest Ye Merry Jazz Men, which is – as its title blatantly expresses – a selection of Christmas songs performed by esteemed jazz musicians. Dan Van Oss’ new CD, The Heart of Heaven ~ A Christmas Present ~, is a reverent Christmas album, for those curious about how to categorize it. See the whole review here.

"This album was gorgeous. I loved the different arrangements of some of the holiday classics and there were a few surprises as well." See the whole review here.

50% of all sales of "The Heart Of Heaven" during the month of December will go towards Parkview Church's new adoption ministry. This ministry will seek to assist families who are pursuing adoption of children locally and globally. CD is available at CDBaby, the Parkview Message Ministry Booth on Sundays, or the back of Dan's car.

Jim has a day job crunching numbers and making sure the church building isn't floating down the river but on the side is an excellent trumpet and flugelhornist. Flugelhorner? Flugel- anyway, look for his work on "Christmas Time Is Here" and "Gloria", both of which were recorded in the basement at 100 William Street in Iowa City. There may be a plaque there.

"The Heart Of Heaven" is now available on iTunes for all your Christmas MP3 shopping.

Jim played all of the guitars on "Heart Of Heaven", but not necessarily all at the same time. Although I'm not really sure because I wasn't there when they were being recorded, but they came out well, I believe. You can find his tasty shredding on such tracks as "Angels We Have Heard On High" and "Blue Christmas".

Time to say thanks to the players. First up is John Carlson WHOM I COMPLETELY FORGOT TO PUT IN THE LINER NOTES AND FOR WHICH I AM NOW WRITING A PUBLIC APOLOGY IN CAPS. That's what happens when you don't have proofreaders. He played soprano sax on "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" in about three takes with no charts, no practice and while drinking a glass of water. Check out more of his music here.

The Heart Of Heaven is now available for order online here. The CD is $10 + shipping. You can also check out my previous CD All To You here.

Just a note: if you're at Parkview Church you can pick up the new CD for $10 at the front office.

I'm finishing up an additional song (Angels We Have Heard On High) to fill out the Christmas CD with 12 tracks. I'm expecting to be done with final mixing in the next 5 weeks. I've decided to master it myself with some new software which allows me to spend even more time playing with new toys and wondering if it really sounds okay.

This is a long process whereby you play mixes in your car, computer and your old boombox with the burnt out power light to see if it sounds acceptable. Once we're done mixing and mastering I'll send it off for duplication. I need to finish a few design details on the CD art as well. Getting it done now will allow me to have it ready on iTunes, Rhapsody, etc. by next Christmas.

Here's the news. The CD is now in rough mix form, which means I'm now able to listen to it in the car on my way to work and realize how much more I need to do to it in order for it to be presentable. Which means it's not going to be ready for Christmas. Some would say this is a major set back, but I say, "have you ever wondered what to give to someone on Groundhog Day?". So for all three of you out there, stay tuned. The good news is that everything will be as polished and ready as can be, and that I now have time to include some extras such as alternate takes and humorosities.

The song order has been finalized:

1 Joy To The World
2 O Come, O Come Emannuel
3 Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus
4 Christmas Time Is Here
5 In The Lonely Midnight
6 Away In A Manger
7 Blue Christmas
8 Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head
9 Little Drummer Boy
10 Gloria
11 Christmas Hymn

Still recording some tracks but I'd expect to have a final CD by mid-November, just in time for the stores to start promoting Valentine's Day.

I'm planning on releasing the CD Nov. 1. There. I said it. I'm doing the last bit of tracking and will be mixing everything this month. Jim is going to master it again. It's been tough to get the song order together but here's the list:

• Joy To The World
• O Come, O Come Emannuel
• Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head
• Christmas Time Is Here
• All In The Silent Night
• Away In A Manger
• Blue Christmas
• Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus
• Little Drummer Boy
• In The Lonely Midnight
• Gloria
• Christmas Lullaby

Christmas CD... Christmas CD... oh, yeah... the Christmas CD is more or less (mostly more) not on schedule. I wanted to do things well and with the time I had it wasn't going to work that way. The bad news is it won't be out until next season; the good news is that it is planned as a full CD instead of an EP. This will give me better time to promote and maybe even do a few shows around it. We'll see. The cover remains the same as below.

The CD is more or less not on schedule. But I may be able to post a few teasers and even complete songs online in the coming week. I think the plan right now is to try to release a full Christmas CD next year when I am able to give it better promotion.

The CD is more or less on schedule. I'm still hoping to have it ready by December 1.

A tentative list of songs have been chosen for the upcoming Christmas CD. And they are:

• O Come, O Come Emmanuel
• Away In A Manger (using the other melody)
• In The Lonely Midnight (an old Christmas hymn with new music)
• Gloria (an original)
• Little Drummer Boy (for some reason always a favorite of mine)

Dan is planning on working on a three-song Christmas CD. His shiny new computer will help him.