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Our Review

Stephen Bennett is an acclaimed musician who excels at playing guitars of all sorts, from the standard 6-string variety to much more. He flatpicks, he fingerstyles, he stuns and amazes at every turn. Whether on his Morris acoustic, or on his harp guitar (a 6-string guitar on steroids, with an extended sound chamber rising up from the top shoulder), Bennett makes marvelous magic on Christmas: Acoustic Guitar Solos.

Guitar instrumentals are a natural fit for the holidays. Conveying warmth and intimacy, such albums provide the ideal backdrop for seasonal gatherings or that quiet evening at home. The guitar's voice is always friendly and welcoming, never harsh or inaccessible. In Bennett's hands, the guitar has never been more desirable. Compared with other solo guitar recordings, Christmas seems brighter and crisper than most. The album's production values are superb. And the harp guitar, which operates almost as a guitar/bass player combo with its additional strings, provides additional richness and depth.

Christmas extends over 45 minutes, presenting 16 tracks that encompass both the sacred and the secular. The song selection is outstanding, making this album a pleasing choice for diverse audiences. Bennett's presentation is cheery and charming (but never oversentimental), sophisticated yet simple, and tosses in just the right amount of spunk (Walking in a Winter Wonderland is extremely cool).

A big "thumbs up" for Stephen Bennett's Christmas: Acoustic Guitar Solos. It's a keeper!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2006)

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From the liner notes:
Produced by Stephen Bennett and Kim Person.

Stephen Bennett

Christmas: Acoustic Guitar Solos

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Track List