Various Artists - A Winter's Solstice, Vol. 2

Depending on the mood you're in, this compilation album will make you dream, smile, or cry a nostalgic tear. It is a typical Windham Hill sampler: wistful, joyful, lush, and lovely. Most songs stick with piano or string instrumentation, and none of them could ever be classified as up-tempo. A few of the tracks, including "The Gift" and "Sung to Sleep," sound like Windham Hill's famous pianist George Winston, but they are actually performed by lesser-known artists. The selections are an interesting combination of classical pieces ("Chorale #220," J.S. Bach), traditional melodies ("Come Life Shaker Life"), and original compositions ("By the Fireside," written and performed by William Allaudin Mathieu). There are almost no vocals in the compilation, although a boy's choir adds an ethereal quality to the end of "Salve Regina." Windham Hill co-founder William Ackerman proves that he's an artist as well as a label exec with his moving, poignant performance of the original composition "Abide the Winter." All in all, this is another success for the label and its talented bunch of artists. It isn't edgy or dramatic or hooky, but it's not intended to be. However, each song in the collection is beautiful, atmospheric, and timeless. ~ L. Katz, All Music Guide

Name Credits Anne Robinson Concept, Art Direction Barbara Higbie Vocals, Performer, Arranger, Piano Benj Kanters Mixing Assistant, Assistant Engineer Bernie Grundman Digital Assembly, Mastering Billy Oskay Mixing Assistant, Assistant Engineer, Violin Brian Dunning Flute Candace Upman Graphic Design Cookie Marenco Producer Dana Rath Mandolin Darol Anger Violin David Dalakrishnan Violin Dawn Atkinson Producer Emily Kliom Flute Fred Simon Producer, Synthesizer, Performer, Piano Hans Wendler Photography Ira Stein Performer, Piano Irene Sazer Viol John Imholz Mandolin Kirk Butler Assistant Engineer, Mixing Assistant Malcolm Dalglish Arranger, Performer Mark Slagle Mixing Assistant, Assistant Engineer Metamora Performer Michael Hedges Arranger, Performer Michael Manring Performer, Piano Mícheál Ó Domhnaill Guitar Mike Marshall Mandolin Nightnoise Performer Paul Binkley Mandola Paul McCandless Performer, Arranger Pete Sutherland Arranger Philip Aaberg Performer Robin May Performer Russel Walder Oboe, Performer Sam Sutherland Liner Notes Stephen Hart Engineer, Mixing, Digital Assembly The Modern Mandolin Quartet Performer, Arranger Theresa Schroeder-Sheker Performer Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill Keyboards Turtle Island String Quartet Performer, Arranger W.A. Mathieu Piano, Arranger Will Ackerman Producer, Guitar, Performer