now playing: Rhonda Vincent: Beautiful Star

Rhonda Vincent
Beautiful Star

Bluegrass artist Rhonda Vincent starts off with this collection with her sole original tune, Christmas Time at Home, a warm review of holiday memories. She then flips the pages of a musical holiday album from The Christmas Song (that’s the one about chestnuts roasting) to Silent Night, to the bluegrass favorite Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, and a very engaging and grassy take on Oh Christmas Tree, and a funny but entirely musical reworking of The Twelve Days of Christmas. Rockin’ Round the Christmas Tree takes on a new shine in Vincent’s version, and Christmas Time’s A -Comin’ is another old favorite done up with warmth and straight ahead appreciation of the fellowship of the season. There’s a lot of very fine instrumental work going on too, Vincent herself on mandolin, her brother Darrin on acoustic bass and guitar, Luke Bulla on fiddle, Bryan Sutton also on guitar, Adam Steffey on mandolin among those who contribute. A good soundtrack to a holiday gathering, it’ll repay closer listening as well.