Starlight. Solitude. Stillness. A wide-open winter sky. This imagery defines A Star’s Light Does Fall – a jazz album that both embraces the magical essence of the Christmas season and re-imagines the entire genre of holiday music.

Guitarist Margaret Slovak and bassist Chris Maresh, both from Austin, go deep on this recording. Their musical mission is anchored in space, intimacy, reflection.

Margaret and Chris interpret classic carols such as “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and “Away In a Manger.” But there’s room for Wayne Shorter and Leonard Cohen on the album, too.

Think of a holiday album in the spirit of Pat Metheny and Charlie Haden’s “Beyond the Missouri Sky,” a sublime mix of deep feeling and musical integrity.

1. O Come, O Come Emmanuel [4:28]
2. I Wonder As I Wander [6:07]
3. What Child Is This? [4:24]
4. Christmas Time Is Here [5:09]
5. Infant Eyes [7:02]
6. Away In a Manger [3:24]
7. Christmas Dinner [4:26]
8. Some Children See Him [4:34]
9. The Star Carol [3:51]
10. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas [5:00]
11. Hallelujah [3:20]

Dedicated to both their late fathers, Henry Slovak and Lee Maresh, who instilled in them the beauty and joy of playing music, the duo’s new recording opens on the delicate O Come, O Come Emmanuel and the shimmering I Wonder As I Wander and then we get the pure gossamer spun within What Child Is This?, the elegant Christmas Time Is Here and then the quietly flourishing Infant Eyes is brought forth.

Along next is the embroidered Away In a Manger and the playful Christmas Dinner, and they are in turn ably followed by the veritably gilded Some Children See Him, the sumptuous The Star Carol, the album rounding out on a dutifully opulent Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, closing on the simply beautiful Hallelujah.

Our intent with this album was to record traditional, non-traditional and lesser-known Christmas music that might bring comfort and peace to people during the holiday season, especially those facing life and health challenges or grieving the loss of a loved one. - Margaret Slovak

Players/Instrument:
Margaret Slovak: nylon-string guitar
Chris Maresh: acoustic bass

Official Purchase Link

www.margaretslovak.com

Margaret Slovak @ YouTube