Joel Setterholm Lowell Michelson

Item: Clarity: Duets for Advent and Christmas
Author: Brian A. Smith

Clarity: Duets for Advent and Christmas

(2002)

Reviewed by Brian A. Smith

Bandcamp

Label Salt Lady RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2002

classical new age worship

Joel Setterholm and Lowell Michelson team up here with an array of instruments on Clarity, presenting both traditional songs and some lesser known tunes with new arrangements. Michelson is the percussionist, playing double tenor steel drums, the marimba, and various hand percussion instruments, while Setterholm chips in with the piano, bass steel drum, recorder, and marimba.

Most of this CD has an Old World/High Church feel to it -- the portrayals of "Silent Night/Forgiveness Waltz" (the latter composed by Jonathan Rundman), "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear", and "Good Christian Friends Rejoice". Setterholm shines on the recorder during "Riu Riu Chiu", giving it almost an oboe/bassoon duet sound.

"Joy to the World" is short and sweet, and "Infant Holy" blends in the carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem". "We Three Kings" is given a Spanish treatment, with a dueling marimba background. The recorder again takes the lead on "Little Drummer Boy", and "Go Tell It on the Mountain" is piano-dominated, and almost is done in an Old West-saloon style.

The old songs are performed well here, if not outstandingly. Fans of the recorder will find a lot to like, and those looking for new arrangements of the old standards should be pleased as well.

3 tocks