AUDIOPHILE AUDITION:
Published on November 16, 2011
It’s that time of year again and the Christmas discs are crossing my desk, whether requested on not. Here’s our annual survey of what we auditioned, and it will start off with two SACDs:
Fiona Joy Hawkins “Christmas Joy” Little Hartley Music multichannel SACD FJH013 *****:
This excellent disc “more than your usual Christmas album” is identified as in the New Age genre, but actually partakes of many world music influences, including Gaelic, Digeridoo, Paraquayan harp, and a variety of ethnic rhythms. Soprano sax and strings are also part of the backing of the piano of Fiona Joy Hawkins. Her SACD was produced by Corin Nelsen and Will Ackerman, who did many Windham Hill albums and also Hawkins’ previous Blue Dream SACD.