I have extolled the acoustic guitar playing artistry of
Damon Buxton for a while now (not as much as I should have, sadly, and that is
on me). His first holiday music album, A
Winter’s Night (with a gorgeous album cover) underscores the praise I have
heaped on him in the past. On the recording, he offers mostly-traditional
versions of eleven standards (only one of which is secular, "Deck the
Halls") plus a concluding original track, "Bells" (which I mistakenly
first figured to be his take on "Carol of the Bells").
Buxton plays guitar with near unbelievable dexterity and
technical proficiency blended with a soulfulness and sincerity that makes it
easy to discern how important making music is to him. He inserts himself into
every note played, investing his art and personality into each rendition, fully
committing to the carol, time and time again. This abundance of a fusion of
talent and heart means that (for me, at least) his music bears up well with
repeat playing, each time eliciting a deeper sense of appreciation and even
wonder.
Each carol gets its own special treatment, as the opening "Angels
we Have Heard on High" is less celebratory than one might hear at Midnight
Mass, but still retains the glory and wonder of the carol itself, albeit
subdued. "Good King Wenceslas" gets the up-tempo treatment, with
Buxton’s fingering shining as he flies over the fretboard with ease and grace. One
of the aspects of Buxton’s recordings I admire is how, while he doesn’t settle
in on one tempo or mood, he finds a way to "bridge" the differences
without causing a "disconnect" in the listener. "O Come All Ye
Faithful" goes mid-tempo which fits quite well even though, as a sung
carol, this can sometimes become quite powerful. Beethoven’s tried-and-true "Ode
to Joy" is treated to an introspective interpretation making this carol,
which is played to death during the seasons for many of us, sound fresh, given
a more introspective rendering. "Deck the Halls" injects a healthy dose
of English folk music elements, appropriately so, and lightens the mood, but
not distractingly so. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," a carol I always
felt was meant to be melancholic and somewhat somber, is played slightly
up-tempo but retains the feeling of somberness and subtle sensation of shadow. "What
Child Is This" (sometimes referred to as "Greensleeves") aptly
displays Buxton’s nuanced fingering and he pares the carol down to the bare
essentials, in my opinion, which befits the emotional core of the song. The
concluding original "Bells," showcases Buxton’s composing skills,
which I have lauded numerous times before. Also, his business acumen, as by
placing it last, should the listener only want "traditional" carols,
one can end the album there. However, the mood and tone of the piece certainly
fits in with what has preceded it here.
A Winter's Night is available at Amazon, Bandcamp, and iTunes.
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