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I was tempted to call Steven Wiseman's Christmas in the Rockies a folk record, because of Wiseman's folky acoustic style of playing guitar. But as I listened further, I heard any number of influences from swing, to new age, to classical, all emanating from the same guitar.

His style is simple and direct. He picks his guitar with authority and clarity, and his arrangements are spare, yet expressive. Accompanied by Michael Olson on fretless bass, Wiseman performs primarily instrumental arrangements of classic Christmas carols.

He is joined by Deborah Peterson on several popular holiday tunes, White Christmas, The Christmas Song, I'll Be Home for Christmas and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Peterson's classy lounge diva vocals, complemented by Wiseman's unassuming accompaniment, are stunningly beautiful, especially on The Christmas Song.

If you are looking for something new, mellow, and refreshing, Steven Wiseman's Christmas in the Rockies may be for you.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2001)

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From the liner notes:

A Colorado transplant from Hawaii, Steven Wiseman is recognized to be among the best instrumental guitarists in the country. He often uses the sounds of nature to enhance his compositions, and his nature CDs have become audio keepsakes of the places he has recorded, such as Maui and Rocky Mountain National Park. In 2001, he won the Rocky Mountain National Park Artist in Residence Award for his nature recordings.

Steven Wiseman

Christmas in the Rockies

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Track List