Winter's Solstice, Vol. 6 CD

This installment of the Winter Solstice series presents an of winter-themed recordings. In addition to usual Windham Hill artists such as George Winston and Liz Story, there are appearances by Marion Meadows, Todd Cochran, Narada recruit David Arkenstone, and the quartet of Brian Keane, Michael Manring, Paul McCandless and Lew Soloff. Perhaps surprisingly, the lack of traditional holiday material only enhances this disc's appeal, as do the first-rate performances. Winter's Solstice Vl is more dynamic and less apt to fade into the background of a wintry eve. ~ Ross Boissoneau

Recording information: Arkensound; Dreamland Recording Studios, West Hurley, NY; Funk & Disorderly Studios, Oakland, CA; Hit Factory, N.Y., NY; Imaginary Road STudios, Windham County, VT; Little Big Feet Studios, Monroe, CT; Media Complex, L.A., CA; RPM Studios, N.Y., NY; Speech and Hearing Clinic, Mendocino, CA; Taylor Made Music, San Diego, CA; Zeta Recording, Toledo, OH.

Photographers: Kathleen Norris Cook; Fred Hirschmann.

Personnel: David Arkenstone (guitar, keyboards); Michael Hedges (guitar, synthesizer); Dean Parks, Will Ackerman, Rob Eberhard Young, W.G. Snuffy Walden (guitar); Sean Harkness (acoustic guitar); Brian Keane (12-string guitar, piano, synthesizer); Lisa Lynne (harp); Seamus Egan (mandolin); Jill Jaffe (violin, viola); Roxanne Bergman, Marshall P. Coid, Peter Kent, Nancy Roth (violin); Carol Benner, Robert Becker (viola); Vivian Israel, Eugene Friesen, Gil Morales, Martha Reikow, Erika Duke-Kirkpartick (cello); Lawrence Feldman (flute, clarinet); Joanie Madden (tin whistle); Susan Craig Winsberg (recorder); Richard Stoltzman (clarinet); Kimberly Bryden, Paul McCandless (oboe); Dennis Anderson (English horn); Marion Meadows (soprano saxophone); Dave Mann (tenor saxophone); Lew Soloff (trumpet); Dan Pickering (flugelhorn); Peter Gordon (French horn); Jay Rowe, Tim Story (piano, synthesizer); Todd Cochrane, George Winston, Jim Brickman, John Boswell, Randy Kerber (piano); Nick Bariluk (electric piano); Dave Anderson, Michael Manring (fretless bass); Arto Tuncboyaciyan, David Tull (drums, percussion); Dave Ratajczak, Joel Rosenblatt (drums); Arti Dixson, Steve Reid , Michael Fisher (percussion).

Audio Mixers: Brian Keane ; Corin Nelsen; Frank Roszak; Larry Sweist; George Nardo; Michael Hedges; Avi Kipper; Tom Bates; W.G. Snuffy Walden; Tim Story; Keith Chirgwin.