Rating:
Genre:
Holiday
Release Date: 10/07/2003
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, All Music Guide
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