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Our Review

Diane Arkenstone is a beautiful new age/pop vocalist who vaguely resembles Catherine Zeta-Jones Douglas, and Misha Segal is an Israeli icon whose new age/smooth jazz piano compositions are but a small part of the story. Together, Arkenstone and Segal make soothing holiday music that will readily appeal to those who favor gentle, yet warmly emotive, interpretations.

Arkenstone and Segal's Christmas Healing: Volume 1 suggests that additional releases are just down the road, and that would be a very good thing. The 10 tracks are heartfelt holiday chestnuts, and the music is a sweet embrace. The album is too brief (just 28 minutes), but the combination of Arkenstone's fragile vocalizations and Segal's artiful keyboard work are alone worth the price of admission. I especially enjoyed the opening Silent Night with Segal's prominent piano action framing Arkenstone's delicate background singing. Arkenstone's soft voice conveys vulnerability and carries a charming innocence. The two instrumental numbers provide peaceful interludes.

This album is designed to soothe, and that is an important feature during the harried holiday season. Take a break, kick back with Diane Arkenstone and Misha Segal, and enjoy some Christmas Healing!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2006)

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From the liner notes:

Produced by Misha Segal and Diane Arkenstone
Co-Produced by Peter Hume
Vocals: Diane Arkenstone
All guitars (D'Addario strings): Peter Hume
Keyboard, piano, programming and arrangements: Misha Segal
Flute and recorder: Cathy Larson
Wood flute on "O Come, O Come Emmanuel": Diane Arkenstone
Recorded at PrimaVista Studio, Woodland Hills, CA

Diane Arkenstone and Misha Segal

Christmas Healing,
Volume I

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Track List