Welcome Winter
Self-Released, 2023
9/10
A guitarist with a penchant for romantic, Spanish influenced songwriting, Bryan Lubeck brings his esteemed skills to 8 holiday songs with an inimitable spin on them.
The really smooth version of “Deck The Halls” opens the listen with playful vibes, crisp drums and, of course, lively and warm guitar, and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” follows with a moody spirit of graceful strings and intricate guitar picking for the thoughtful climate.
At the halfway point, Eric Salazar brings his rich clarinet to the intimacy of “The Christmas Song”, while “Jingle Bells” is a frisky version that uses the vibes, drums and fluid guitar in a way that just might be the best interpretation yet.
Near to the end, the tense and flowing “Mary Did You Know” benefits much from the stirring strings amid Lubeck’s precise guitar, and “Carol Of The Bells” exits with a mesmerizing and textured moment of dreamy ideas.
A truly unique holiday record that carries a worldly appeal, Lubeck’s guitar work is unparalleled, and the songs radiate in a way that may make you wish it was December.
Travels well with: Wayne Alpern- Rezurrektion (String Quartets); Nic Vardanega- New Beginning