The new album from Jill Tracy is a short collection of holidays music, with one original track tucked in. But it is more than an album of novelty holiday standards that fill the shelves of retailers. Instead, the style of Jill Tracy turn these endearing hymns into moments of reflection, a hallmark and intent during these times of the year.
Jill Tracy recreates these songs on piano. The music is softly perfected, providing a feel of the spirit of the songs. You can sense the reverence of the original words as you soak these in. You absorb the music like a warm cloth placed over your when you feel chill. They fill you in a strangely comforting way.
On Silver Smoke, Star of Night, the seven hymns and the self-penned, “Room 19” are cabaret-styled, and yet they are beyond entertainment. The songs, “O Come O Come Emanuel”, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”, “Coventry Carol”, “What Child Is This?”, “We 3 Kings”, “Carol of the Bells”, “In The Bleak Midwinter”, and her own, “Room 19”, are all gold.
If you’re a holiday music fan and have the sense of awe that can be found inside of these holidays, then I can recommend Jill Tracy’s engaging Silver Smoke, Star of Night. With its aching violins, the softly played piano keys, the bells, percussion, and drums, and the entrancing voice, you’ll be inside of the holidays in a spiritual sense.
That’s quite a value these days.
Release Date: October 16, 2012
–Matt Rowe