Reviewed by Andy Cooper

Mike Haughton, solo sax, recorder, flute and whistle player featured within, toured with Martyn Joseph in the '80s, Iona in the '90s and Cliff Richard in the '00s. It's an absolute pleasure to hear him featured on a full length release again. "Sussex Carol" starts things off with a jolly arrangement, full of delicate embellishments and Mike's trademark riffs and rasps. "Angels From The Realms Of Glory" follows, with a steady rock rhythm and soprano sax taking the tune. It's more Kenny G than Stan Getz, but does indeed put the listener in a fine seasonal mood. "Silent Night" rounds off the set with a dreamy slow dance. The only criticism is a lack of life in the dynamics of the saxophone: it appears to be played with considerable emotion, which seems to be mostly sapped away by the studio. Smoothness perhaps was considered more important than realism by the producer? This is a shame, as pretty much every song is arranged beautifully and intelligently while Mike performs with personality and panache. He is one of the few wind players who has an instantly recognisable sound, which in this case turns familiar Christmas tunes into something extraordinary.

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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