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What a buoyant beginning to my 2007 holiday music reviewing season! With the Labor Day Weekend coming to a close, it is my pleasure to review Rhonda Vincent's excellent Beautiful Star: A Christmas Collection. With seven consecutive wins as the International Bluegrass Music Association's"Female Vocalist of the Year," Vincent has the vocal chops to steal your breath away. Her voice is clean, strong, and sparkling, and carries just the right rustic texture to warm your heart. Ah, this is splendid bluegrass music!

Beautiful Star features a dozen cuts, opening with a rollicking Vincent original, Christmas Time Is Here. Although you find vibrant finger-pickin' on the album (my personal favorite is probably the classic Christmas Time's A Comin'), Beautiful Star also shines on its more subdued numbers. On tracks such as The Christmas Song, Silent Night, and Away in a Manger, Vincent glows with heartfelt sincerity. The arrangements on these latter pieces are simple, letting the familiar lyrics carry the day, and the vocal harmonies on Silent Night and Away in a Manger are especially sweet. The album becomes a true "family affair" when the kiddies join the fun for Jingle Bells.

Overall, the time spent with Vincent this afternoon was marvelous, but all-too-slim; the album slid to a close after a meager 36 minutes. Still, the time was definitely well spent. If you enjoy bluegrass music, Rhonda Vincent's Beautiful Star should top your tree. It's a keeper!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2007)

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From the liner notes:

Rhonda Vincent: Vocals, Mandolin
Darrin Vincent: Acoustic Bass, Harmony Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin Fills
Bryan Sutton: Acoustic Guitar, Arch Top Guitar
Josh Williams: Acoustic Guitar, Harmony Vocals
Ron Stewart: Banjo
Aaron McDaris: Banjo
Noam Pikelny: Banjo
Stuart Duncan: Fiddle
Luke Bulla: Fiddle
Hunter Berry: Fiddle
Adam Steffey: Mandolin, Mandolin Chop
Randy Kohrs: Resophonic Guitar
David Grier: Acoustic Guitar
Kevin Grantt: Acoustic Bass
Frances Cunningham: Bouzouki
Scott Vestal: Banjo
Aubrey Haney: Mandolin
Tom Roady: Percussion, Jingle Bells
Mickey Harris: Harmony Vocals
Bob Patin: Piano
Amber Burks: Harp
Jeff & Sheri Easter: Harmony Vocals
Jamie Dailey: Harmony Vocals
Carl Jackson: Harmony Vocals
Sally Sandker: Harmony Vocals
Sharon White Skaggs: Harmony Vocals
Cheryl White: Harmony Vocals
Guest Appearances on Jingle Bells by: Chandler Vincent, Zachary Vincent, Victoria Vincent, Alex Turner, Justin Turner, Maggie Sutton, Chappel Morris, Chance Morris
Thirteen Member Twelve Day Choir (in order of appearance): Rhonda Vincent, Mickey Harris, Josh Williams, Hunter Berry, Sally Sandker, Kenny Ingram, Yogi Bare, Herb Sandker, Tony Williams, Terri Williams, Dennis Joseph, Roneica Joesph, Blair Joseph

Produced by Darrin Vincent & Rhonda Vincent
Recorded and Mixed by Mike Latterell at Adventure Studios, Nashville, TN
Music Consultant: Herb Sandker

Rhonda Vincent

Beautiful Star: A Christmas Collection

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Track List