Review and More

Our Review

The ChristmasReviews.com Website has many holiday music reviews featuring solo acoustic guitar albums, and these are some of my favorite offerings. The warm and winning sound of a well-played guitar is a natural organic match for Christmas carols; the familiar and accessible guitar voice embraces and enhances the nostalgic joys inherently associated with the holidays. Richard Gilewitz's Strings for a Season is an exciting addition to the instrumental guitar genre; even more importantly, it provides more layers of interest. In addition to Gilewitz's virtuosity on the 6 & 12-string guitars, he welcomes several musician friends who contribute a family of strings (guitar, cello, violin, mandolin, banjo, and piano). The result is a richer, fuller sound that largely retains the intimacy of the solo guitar, and this fine recipe makes Strings for a Season a great entertainment option for the holidays.

I reviewed this album at 5 AM on a frosty October morning in Minnesota, and the music's friendly companionship certainly made the early hour easier to accept. The arrangements are exceptional; Stephen Siktberg provides the bulk, but the late John Fahey contributes one, and Gilewitz presents his own freshly-minted, Fahey-inspired constructions. The well-worn carols dance with color, light, and heat--almost as though the music is its own holiday hearth, rewarding the listeners with comfort and bliss. The music is cheery, but never frenetic; this album is the perfect backdrop for almost any holiday event.

Although all players make important contributions here, I particularly love the cello's low voice (Laurie Jarski, Deidre Emerson); for me, the cello speaks straight from the soul. Every track is excellent, and it is difficult to pick out "favorites" from the group. Even so, the highlights must include Gilewitz's solo guitar on Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, the jazzy flourishes (and banjo excitement) on God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, and the full interplay of strings and piano on We Three Kings.

Impressive! Richard Gilewitz has created a classic Christmas album that should endure; Strings for a Season will be warmly received by diverse holiday music aficionados for many, many years to come!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2008)

More

From the liner notes:

Richard Gilewitz: 6 & 12 string acoustic guitars, Jew's Harp
Tim May: resolphonic guitar, tenor banjo, mandolin, acoustic guitar
Laurie A. Jarski: cello
Deidre Emerson: cello
Gretchen Priest-May: violin/fiddle
David Webb: keyboard/piano

Produced by Tim May & Richard Gilewitz
Recorded at Obanyon's Terrace Studio, Nashville, TN, June & July 2008
Engineered & Mixed by Tim Roberts
Mastered by Mike Fuller, FULLERSOUND, Inc., Miami, FL


From the Website:

About the album:

Strings for a Season is a collection of favorite seasonal tunes gathered up by Richard as he pays tribute to some very traditional tunes. Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, with Grammy award winning sound engineer Tim Roberts, and co-produced with Grammy nominated artist Tim May, it's a flurry of sounds created by a family of strings from the guitar, cello, violin, mandolin, banjo, and piano.

This 15-track release features nine guitar arrangements for classical guitar from Mel Bay Publications author Stephen C. Siktberg's 1993 book, Christmas Music for Acoustic Guitar along with a John Fahey arrangement of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, and five arrangements by Richard Gilewitz, inspired by John Fahey's earlier popular Christmas albums.

Each track contains the signature 6 and 12-steel string guitar sounds of Richard Gilewitz as he shares the spotlight with the ambiance of cello from Laurie Jarski and Deidre Emerson, piano and keyboard from David Webb, and the violin of Gretchen Priest. Tim May, recording artist who has played with the likes of Patty Loveless, Eddie Rabbit, and Charlie Daniels, adds his touch with mandolin, tenor banjo, acoustic guitar and resophonic guitar. All solo guitar performances are by Richard Gilewitz except for a guitar duet with Tim May on Angels We Have Heard on High

About the artist:

Known as one of the strangest men in acoustic music today, Richard Gilewitz fascinates his audiences with fingerstyle gymnastics on his 6 and 12-string guitars while spinning yarns too unbelievable not to be true. His ability to make one guitar sound like an entire orchestra stems from 33 years of well-honed technique and 25 years of on the road worldwide touring, creating his own signature sound that has been captured on his CDs, DVDs, and songbooks. But it is his live shows that bring out the best in this author, composer, guitarist, humorist, AND storyteller who follows a distinct cadence that creates a glow that continually grows a little brighter with each tune. ***

Welcoming the challenge of mastering and adapting many styles of music for the acoustic and classical guitar, Richard forges a new path to include the expanse of his influences. These influences and experiences are also brought to life during his ever-popular guitar/ sound seminars and his Meet the Artist-Music in the Schools program.

Whether playing solo, conducting guitar seminars and school programs, or years of sharing the stage with folks such as The California Guitar Trio, John McCutcheon, John Renbourn, Mose Allison, the late John Fahey, Leo Kottke, Norman Blake, Indigo Girls, John Hammond, Rory Block, or Jane Siberry, Richard Gilewitz always creates a sparkle of mood mastery and wonderment.

Richard Gilewitz

Strings for a Season

Artist link

Track List