If I was asked to play a Christmas album in July, there's only one album in my collection that I would indeed listen to in summer's heat. That album is Christmas by Canadian singer-songwriter and resident leftist Bruce Cockburn [b. 1945].

Recorded in 1993, Cockburn's take on the season sparkles with wit, reverence, and a touch of nostalgia for his childhood. It's not your usual Christmas album, that's for sure.

With Christmas, Cockburn has managed to take recognized classics of the season, update them with simple and original accompaniment, and add his personal flourishes while remaining true to their origins. He delivers a fresh and organic record, one that (for those who enjoy Christmas music) will stand the test of time.

In the liner notes, Cockburn mentions that some sources of the songs date back to a carol book his father had given him as a boy; others he stumbled upon in his travels. During the recording sessions, he remained conscious of treating all the pieces, some more so, as songs written by songwriters. "In some cases, it seemed that a little nudge in one direction or another would help revive their 'songness'."

Tracks
1. Adeste Fideles (instrumental)
2. Early on One Christmas Morn (traditional)
3. O Little Town of Bethlehem (traditional)
4. Riu Riu Chiu (traditional)
5. I Saw Three Ships (traditional)
6. Down in Yon Forest (traditional)
7. Les Anges Dans Nos Campagnes (traditional)
8. Go Tell It on the Mountain (traditional)
9. Shepherds (Cockburn)
10. Silent Night (traditional)
11. Iesus Ahatonnia (The Huron Carol) (traditional)
12. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (traditional)
13. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (traditional)
14. Mary Had a Baby (traditional)
15. Joy to the World (Handel) (instrumental)
Total: 57:24; produced by Bruce Cockburn.

Musicians
Bruce Cockburn (vocals, guitar, dulcimer, percussion, wind chimes), Colin Linden (guitar, slide guitar, vocals), Hugh Marsh (violin, violectra), Richard Bell (piano, organ, accordion), Dick Smith (percussion), John Dymond (bass), Gary Craig (drums). Background vocalists were contributed by Sharon Lee Williams, Colina Phillips, Vivienne Williams, Eliseo Borrero, Alberto Mirabal, Candi Sosa, Jenny Cockburn, and Sam Phillips.

Cockburn avoided making a repetitive album by interspersing different elements outside of the traditional trappings of the songs. The album includes a gospel undertone on some songs, some country blues flourishes, and Cockburn's recognizable "world music meets folk" ethic. He serves the songs well by avoiding the syrupy elements that many Christmas albums share--strings, synthesizers, and heavy chorus elements.

Bruce Cockburn made a name early in his career as a Christian artist so there's no mistaking his faith in the season or these songs. The fact that he can take these traditional, seasonal, and spiritual songs and bring them into his own canon says a lot about his abilities as a musician.

It is notable that Cockburn's album is uniformly spiritual with no cynical edge. There's no pandering here. The songs are what they are and he delivers them with an understated conviction and superb instrumentation.

There's very few "spiritual" Christmas albums that hit on all cylinders with me as so many of them seem a bit manipulative. With Cockburn's Christmas the performance is all about sincerity of purpose, but the musicianship raises it above any other offering (four stars) making it very easy to play this album year-round.

Sources
www.allmusicguide.com, www.brucecockburn.com, www.cockburnproject.net



Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Hanging With Friends