A Windham Hill Christmas, Vol. 2 (CD - 2003)

This is part of Windham Hill's "Christmas" series.

Personnel: David Cullen (guitar, keyboards); George Winston, William Coulter, Alex de Grassi (guitar); Nina Gerber (acoustic guitar); Will Ackerman (baritone guitar); Steve Erquiaga (nylon-string guitar); Barbara Higbie (hammer dulcimer, celtic harp, violin, piano, synthesizer); Tracy Silverman (violin, electric violin, viola, keyboards); Martha Reikow (cello); Brian Dunning (flute, pennywhistle, accordion); Thea Suits-Silverman (flute); Paul McCandless (oboe, English horn, keyboards); Kimberly Bryden (oboe); Tim Story (piano, synthesizer); Jim Brickman, Liz Story (piano); Philip Aaberg (grand piano); Richard Schönerz (keyboards, percussion programming); Michael Manring (fretless bass).

Audio Mixers: Dawn Atkinson; Corin Nelsen; Howard Johnston; Neil Harris.

Liner Note Author: John Dillberto.

Recording information: Big Kitty Studios, Alameda, CA; Brickhouse Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Different Fur Studios, San Francisco, CA; Farsight Studio, Frankfurt, Germany; Gutlab South, Nashville, TN; Imaginary Road STudios, Windham County, VT; Jacordi Studio, Clane, County Kildare, Ireland; Liberty Village Arts Center, Chester, MT; Maggie's House, Redwood Valley, CA; Seventh Chance Studio, Maumee, OH; The Ark, Camano Island, WA; TuttoMedia Studios, Venice, CA; Zeta Recording, Holland, OH.

Editor: Philip Aaberg.

Photographers: David Ross; Rob Atkins; Irene Young; Richard Schultz; Patrick Hinely; Ray Katchatorian; David Rose; Carl Story & the Rambling Mountaineers.

Arrangers: David Cullen; George Winston; Will Ackerman; Richard Schönerz; Jim Brickman; Liz Story; Paul McCandless; Philip Aaberg; Steve Erquiaga; Alex de Grassi; Barbara Higbie; Tracy Silverman; Tim Story; Brian Dunning.

Following in the footsteps of the previous collection, A Windham Hill Christmas, Vol. 2 gathers more relaxing, sophisticated holiday music as performed by Windham Hill's roster of artists. The collection finds the right balance between traditional and contemporary, both in terms of its sound and its choice of songs. Will Ackerman and David Cullen's "I Wonder as I Wander" sounds gently modern, while Paul McCandless' "In Dulci Jubilo" has a slightly more traditional bent. Tracy Silverman and Thea Suits' strings and flute interpretation of "Away in a Manger" mixes both approaches and is breathtaking in its lovely simplicity. Most of the performances here, including Barbara Higbie's "Patapan," suggest pristine snowscapes or, in the case of Jim Brickman's "The First Noel," the warmth of a hearth, but Steve Erquiaga's "Joy to the World" may be the first rendition of the carol that sounds downright sunny. Tracks by Richard Schönherz, Alex de Grassi, and Tim Story and George Winston's "Silver Bells" complete the album, which like A Windham Hill Christmas, makes a lovely, subtle soundtrack to the holidays. ~ Heather Phares minimize