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Our Review

Jim Gibson is an excellent classical/new age pianist, and his earlier instrumental holiday release Carols for Christmas (reviewed here) is a personal favorite. Now Gibson's back with Still, Still, Still: More Carols for Christmas, and he not surprisingly impresses with same virtuosity as he navigates 13 additional ancient carols with delightful solo piano improvisations.

The holiday tunes are traditional numbers from long ago, but Gibson's sophisticated arrangements transform simple melodies into fresh discoveries, and his gentle touch creates quiet tapestries of sound. In lieu of a twinkling new age sentiment, Gibson's music is richly contemplative, sometimes including minor turns and discordant flavors. The overall recipe is wonderfully rewarding. Please note, however, that this album is recorded at lower volume levels than most. This means, for example, that I can crank my audio volume all the way up, and my headphones still will not explode my head. Not a big deal, but interesting, and this could make a difference if you are trying to play the album in a noisy environment (like on your car player, for example).

This multi-layered instrumental piano music is a feast for the ears. Still, Still, Still is the sort of album you can play all day without tiring of its creative improvisations; each listening is a new adventure. The music is calming and thoughtful, just what many of us want and deserve during the hectic holiday period. Everything is lovely here and well-executed.

Jim Gibson's Still, Still, Still is a strong addition to instrumental piano music for the holidays. If you enjoy new age piano with classical leanings and an improvisational edge, this album is for you.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2006)

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From the liner notes:

Recorded Fall 2006 at Upstairs Studio, Atlanta, GA
Mastered by Chris Griffin, Griffin Mastering
Cover design by David Dodson, Peachtree Type and Design
Cover Photo of Sky Valley, GA, by Jim Gibson

All arrangements by Jim Gibson

One of the wonders of music is that it lasts for generations--songs that are even hundreds of years old can still be well-known and widely popular. Thus, the idea of recording very old Christmas songs was appealing to us as we worked on this CD.

Some of these songs (O, Holy Night and We Three Kings, for example) date from the mid-1800s, but several are much older. Isn't it fascinating to think of all the millions of people enjoying The Friendly Beasts, Patapan, or Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming, at Christmastime for centuries in settings ranging from tiny country churches in France to the greatest Cathedrals of Europe?

Music is a bond that unites us, and this is especially true for the great, old Christmas melodies on this recording. We hope you enjoy them.

Jim Gibson

Still,
Still,
Still: More Carols for Christmas

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Track List