David Arkenstone has given us a great selection of Christmas albums over the years. From the Narda and Windham Hill days (like Enchantment: A Magical Christmas) to the modern-sounding A Christmas Lounge, he has shown that he is a master when it comes to composing original Christmas music – and arranging the classics too. The topic of this post is Visions of Christmas (2010), which is a beautiful mix of originals and holiday favorites.
As usual, David has attention to what matters the most; melodies and the arrangement. It has a lovely live feel to it, and no one out there does the synth line better. Really! It is simply, hands-down masterful.
The album starts with a welcome trio of classics: Joy to the World, Deck the Halls and What Child is This. And with that, the good ‘ol Christmas feel will for sure come. But David Arkenstone has put some interesting gifts under the tree too; Snowdance (which has a beautiful build-up and magnificent flute part), the Celtic-sounding Bottom of the Punchbowl and the colorful Arabian Dance. Silent Night is the album closer, which has some excellent segments of Arkenstone’s own creation.
Visions of Christmas is simply the perfect holiday album. It features an irresistible mix of classics and originals.
And remember, if Visions of Christmas is too classic heavy for your taste – Arkenstone gave us the very modern sounding A Christmas Lounge a few years ago – which is jazzy and upbeat at the same time. So yes, we got everything that was on the wishing list!
For more information and music samples, davidarkenstone.com.