Guitarist Chris Standring is no stranger here. I've been following him for years and reviewing his albums. Now he has digitally released his Christmas album 'Silent Night', on which he shows his unique version of those classics. Chris was inspired by the classical versions of Nelson Riddle and Vince Guaraldi to put his own guitar stamp on it. And you immediately hear that from 'Deck the Halls', which sounds contemporary. This is followed by the beautiful, jazzy sounding 'The Christmas Song' or 'Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire'. ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’ sounds like you can step on it, after which ‘The First Noel’ takes you back in time to your first Christmas. The title track brings Chris in a traditional way, followed by 'Hark The Herald Angels Sing' that sounds more jazzy. And 'We Three Kings' floats on a quiet rhythm. You can swing on the hip 'Winter Wonderland', after which 'O Little Town Of Bethlehem' harks back to the fifties. A Christmas CD cannot be complete without 'White Christmas', which pushes Chris to new heights with his own interpretation.He was joined by drummer Dave Karasony and bassists John Leftwich and Kevin Art, but it is obviously Chris who steals the show with his new versions of these traditional Christmas classics. To enjoy quietly by the fire!
		Website Chris Standring Tracks: 1) "Deck The Halls" (3:34) 2) "The Christmas Song" (3:41) 3) "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (4:10) 4) "The First Noel" (2:36) 5) "Silent Night" (3:45) 6) "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" (3:50) 7) "We Three Kings" (3:53) 8) "Winter Wonderland" (2:55) 9) "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" (2:47) 10) "White Christmas" (3:10) Copied with the permission of the author from culturmania.