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A Windham
Hill Christmas II again assembles the top instrumental music
masters for thirteen inspired new versions of some of the most familiar
melodies in all of music.
Artists on the recording include a who’s who of contemporary
instrumental music, including Windham Hill founder Will Ackerman, Jim
Brickman, George Winston, Steve Erquiaga, Liz Story, Alex de Grassi, Paul
McCandless and more.
Standout performances include guitarist Steve Erquiaga’s “Joy
to the World,” which is transformed from its usual anthem-like approach to a
more peaceful reverie. Pianist Philip Aaberg completely re-imagines “God
Rest Ye Merry,” unlocking the quiet inner voice of this minor key melody to
evoke the wide-open Montana plains where he was born and still lives.
Guitarist Alex de Grassi discovers a different spirit in
“Angels We Have Heard on High,” a 19th-century French carol. Legend tells it
that shepherds would call this melody out to each other from their hilltops
on Christmas Eve. De Grassi, however, instead turns this classic into a
jazz fantasy accompanied by noted bassist Todd Phillips.
“Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella” has been a staple of Liz
Story’s Winter Solstice Concert appearances for years. Dating to
16th-century France but with an even more ancient melodic lineage, it’s
revealed here by Story as a meditative hymn.
A modern chamber music approach is the focus of many of these
carols, whether it is Richard Schönherz’s electronic orchestration of “O
Tannenbaum” or Tim Story’s delicate trio arrangement of “Hark! The Herald
Angels Sing” for keyboards, oboe and cello. Paul McCandless, a longtime
member of the chamber jazz group Oregon, weaves his oboe through the melody
of “In Dulci Jubilo,” a 14th-century hymn best known in its J. S. Bach
arrangement.
Keyboardist Jeff Johnson and flutist Brian Dunning put a
Celtic spin on an airy rendition of a 16th century English carol called “The
Waits’ Song,” while violinist Tracy Silverman and his wife, flutist Thea
Suits, put a modernistic spin on the 19th century American carol, “Away in a
Manger.”
Jim
Brickman explores the pop overtones of “The First Noel,” while George
Winston switches to acoustic guitar and turns the easy listening pop carol,
“Silver Bells” into a folk meditation with a bit of Hawaiian slack key
twang.
With a creative approach to centuries-old material,
A
Windham Hill Christmas II
forges a new soundtrack for the winter holidays. |
In Dulci Jubilo
