St. Augustine sadi: "Anticipation is the better part of happiness." Perhaps he had Christmas on his mind when he said it. Certainly all the preparations and reminders combine to help make it such a special time for us. And, as life goes on our imipresions of Christmas grow deeper and richer as each year adds another layer of wonderful memories. In his new recording Detroit based Pianist Jim Bajor the heart of these associations and feelings on "An Intimate Christmas." Side one is filled with solo piano interpretations of familiar carols. Though most of them are well known to us, Jim plays each with a freshness and individuality that allows the listener to savor it a new. But just in case all this contemplation makes you drowsy, after your delicious Christmas dinner, the second halfpicks up the tempo to the holiday celebration with your loved ones lively. Jim is backed by guitar, bass and drums. Now we hear Christmas songs played in a swinging, gentle, jazzy improvosational style reminiscent of the delightful music written for the Peanuts holiday cartoon programs. So this CD has a lot of variety amoung it's qualities.. Yet, everything we hear Jim play on it is filled with emotion and feeling. It is his personal Christmas greeting to all who listen to it. This is an audiophile all digital recording. Jim Bajor contines to reside and concertize in the metropolitan Detroit area.