Peter Furler Christmas (feat. David Ian)

You might expect Peter Furler’s first seasonal project to be a boisterous affair filled with blazing guitars and rocking rhythms. Instead, the veteran Christian artist approaches his set of traditional carols and modern-day nativity songs with a jazz singer’s light touch. Equally important are David Ian’s intimate arrangements, built around sparse piano lines, delicate strings, and tasteful percussion. Warm, slightly bittersweet takes on “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” “O Come All Ye Faithful," and “The Little Drummer Boy” have the charm of Vince Guaraldi’s classic holiday recordings. A pair of Scripture readings enhance the album’s musical selections.