Our Review
Fingerstyle guitarist Pete Huttlinger has crafted a first-class instrumental holiday album. First Light presents 12 well-loved favorites and two winning Huttlinger originals, including the title track. The music is low-key and lovely; this is the perfect album to play while you (and your friends/family) enjoy roast goose or sip eggnog around the fire.
The recording nicely captures Huttlinger's incredible precision and soulful artistry. Every interaction is cleanly presented, putting the listener in the room with Huttlinger, who performs flawlessly.
Everything is excellent here, although I especially loved Angels We Have Heard on High, a spirited rendition with a bluesy twang and a "drumming" foundation. The layers of guitar magic on My Favorite Things were also sweet, and his dynamic Christmas Song had me "dancing" in my chair. Best of all is the smokey, exotic God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, which is deservedly the album's longest track. It shows many faces during its run, all beautiful.
Pete Huttlinger's First Light is an outstanding acoustic instrumental album for the holidays. Of the many Christmas releases featuring solo guitar, this one is definitely a top contender.
--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2009)
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From the liner notes:
Produced by Pete Huttlinger
On this CD I played two guitars by Chris Bozung--a Model-J and a CB-ROM, a Collings OM1 and a Keith Adams classical guitar.
Recorded by Pete Huttlinger
All arrangements by Pete Huttlinger
Mixed & Mastered by Dave Sinko
From the artist's Website:
Pete Huttlinger has performed on numerous Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated projects. He has also been nominated for an Emmy for music he both composed and performed for a PBS special. His performances have been used in several national TV series, including the PBS Nature special "Let This Be A Voice." He created the theme song for ESPN's Flyfishing America, a program on which he has made guest appearances. Over the years, Pete has established himself as a top-notch session player, composer, arranger, bandleader, songwriter and sideman.
Pete Huttlinger
First Light: A Pete Huttlinger Christmas
Artist link
Label: Instar
Length: 40 minutes
Genre: New Age
Release: 2007
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| First Light |
| I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day |
| O Come, O Come Emmanuel |
| Go Tell It on the Mountain |
| I'll Be Home for Christmas |
| Angels We Have Heard on High |
| My Favorite Things |
| After the Gifts |
| The Christmas Song |
| The First Noel |
| God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen |
| We Three Kings |
| What Child Is This? |
| Silent Night |