Breath of Heaven: A Christmas Collection (CD - 1998)

Personnel includes: Vince Gill (vocals, guitar); George Doering, Dean Parks (guitar); Mike Lang (piano); Michael Omartian (keyboards, percussion); Chuck Berghofer (bass); Gregg Field (drums); Larry Bunker (percussion); The Patrick Williams Orchestra.

All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.

BREATH OF HEAVEN: A CHRISTMAS COLLECTION WITH PATRICK WILLIAMS AND HIS ORCHESTRA was nominated for the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. "Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song)" was nominated for the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s).

This is a DTS CD, which features DTS 5.1 Surround Sound technology and is playable on a DTS-capable 5.1 Surround Sound system.

Vince Gill does Sinatra? Well, sort of. His second holiday collection, BREATH OF HEAVEN is a collaboration with Ol' Blue Eyes' former arranger Patrick Williams, and Gill describes it as his chance to "be like Nat King Cole or Sinatra, and snap my fingers and drink martinis." Replace "martinis" with "eggnog" and you've got an apt description of what is surely one of the most original Christmas country albums ever. Gill, a prodigious guitar player and songwriter, does neither on BREATH OF HEAVEN. He simply applies his high, sweet voice to a range of timeless standards, from "Silver Bells" to "O Come All Ye Faithful," many of which have been recast in a Sinatra/Dean Martin style.

On secular numbers like "Winter Wonderland" and especially "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow," Gill has a swingin' time with the jazzy, loose-limbed arrangements. On the religious material like "A Cradle In Bethlehem" and the Amy Grant-penned title track, his voice takes on a hushed reverence that stands out against the massed voices of the backing choir. And when Gill soars to hit the high notes on the goosebump-inducing "O Holy Night," you really can "hear the angel voices." minimize