IT'S A SIGN of the times. In Christmas music, silver bells have given way to silver synthesizers. Mannheim Steamroller, with its new-age "Fresh Aire Christmas" releases, is slowly replacing Bing and the boys as the official voice of an American Christmas.
And better watch out, they're coming to town in two weeks. In fact, due to popular demand Chip Davis and his Mannheim machine have been forced to add an extra show, due to popular demand - as they say.A Fresh Aire Christmas has been slated for the Capitol Theatre from Wednesday, Dec. 1, through Sunday, Dec. 5, at 8 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are available through 355-ARTS. Tickets range from $21.50 to $27.50.
"What we play," Davis has said, "is a kind of 18th-century rock 'n' roll. We draw from a lot of different sources to come up with something totally different."
"A Fresh Aire Christmas" has been different enough to sell 6 million copies. And pigeonholing the performance is tough. Think of all the instruments on those old Spike Jones Christmas songs, then take out all the silliness and replace it with high-minded fantasy. That might be close.
"This concert is getting to be a Christmas tradition like the lighting of the lights on Temple Square," says Bruce Granath of Space Agency. "I would guess this is Mannheim Steamroller's best market in the country. They get incredible demand and loyalty here. To use a cliche, very few shows have something for the whole family these days, and this Christmas show has that. It's instrumental music, very positive and tends to appeal to someone a little older. New Age music has classical roots to it, and I think the way the Mormon Church has stressed music and theater over the years helps develop an audience for such things."
For years Chip Davis was the silent force in Mannheim Steamroller, but lately he's been getting his name out front. It's now Chip Davis and Mannheim Steamroller, and his latest release - "Impressions" - casts him in the role of soloist.
"I played 95 percent of the album myself," he has said. "I also used the string section of the London Symphony and French horn and string sections of the Chicago Symphony on some of the pieces."
How much solo work Davis will do in his Christmas show remains to be seen. One thing is for certain, however. People will turn out in droves to hear his inventive and one-of-a-kind arrangements of Christmas classics like "Carol of the Bells" and "Little Drummer Boy."
And Davis - who knows his audience as well as he knows his music - will be giving the people what they want to hear.