Abigail Winzer
Rejoice
(self-released)

Yes, that certain season will all too soon be upon us and soprano Abigail Winzer is preparing us well with her new album Rejoice. Opening with “O Holy Night,” we get the tight-mouthed yet powerful vocals of Winzer sailing high over strings and piano. “What Child Is This” follows with the pluck of harp and plink of vibes setting up a nice opening instrumental passage, leading to Winzer’s higher end. A Celtic flavor of high-pitched wind instruments (and old ones like the duduk), plucky strings, piano, and simple, stark productions (on most) informs this seven-song Christmas release on these classics. I especially like Winzer letting the instrumental of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” be included, seeing as it is her voice she is most pushing here. But you can’t deny multi-instrumentalists (and her producer) Michael Crittenden, and players like James Spalink and Arsen Petrosyan. The piano on “O Come, O Come Emanuel,” slipping around the sad sounding horns (especially Petrosyan’s dukuk) and Crittenden’s piano is especially beautiful, opening the tune as it does. This is probably the best interweaving of vocals and instruments,  floating us off to fog-bound lands crusty with winter coming. “O Come All Ye Faithful” sees a rather breathy Winzer singing over sleigh bells at the very beginning of the tune, then Spalink’s whistle sliding in. It’s fun to listen to Winzer’s highest notes become one with the whistle just before an acoustic guitar comes in and leads us out with the whistle and Winzer’s notes married perfectly to one sound. Rejoice over Abigail Winzer’s Rejoice.