The six strings of Christmas

Reviewed December 2006

The once new age, now adult instrumental (mostly) label Windham Hill has become as much a brand as a music company. On the latest of its annual Christmas collections, the label gathers holiday favorites from its roster of acoustic guitarists for a predictable yet pleasant stroll through the usual assortment of holiday faves.

With guitarists like Tuck Andress, Alex de Grassi and Steve Erquiaga running through such standards as "Angels We Have Heard on High," "Winter Wonderland" and "God Rest You Merry Gentlemen," the album has a classy but not traditional feel to it. Those tired of the standard Christmas fare, yet still wanting something that sounds like Christmas, are likely to find this collection a favorite listen.

Review by Jim Trageser. Jim is a writer and editor living in Escondido, Calif., and was a contributor to the "Grove Press Guide to Blues on CD" (1993) and "The Routledge Encyclopedia of the Blues" (2005).