Reviewed by Tony Cummings

I was talking to a supermarket manager recently who was understandably complaining about the dreadful Christmas muzak he had to endure each year. Maybe I should try and pass him a copy of this 2014 release by a British gospel pianist. Because although it features all those songs that retail executives insist on pumping out to their customers each Christmas (deep breath. "Away In A Manger", "Hark The Herald Angels Sing", and "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" and a non-carol "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas") at least they have no middle-of-the-road choirs or cutesy kids pushing them into pain territory. In fact Mr Smith is an excellent pianist performing the evergreens without OTT Liberace/Clayderman embellishments and on "Silent Night" showing a delicacy of touch that can restore some beauty to an over recorded carol.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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