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Our Review

So unique! Gathering is a group that celebrates diversity in every sense of the word. The self-titled CD "Gathering: A Holiday Celebration" fuses many different cultures, evidenced both by the stylistic choices and by the instruments driving the project. The Australian didgeridoo, Irish pipes, Hawaiian ukulele and Caribbean steel drums all find a home on this CD. Spanish flamenco dances with Japanese taiko drumming, and all of these international elements swirl over a traditional foundation of American jazz. Very cool!

The Gathering consists of Kate Peters (who possesses a killer Broadway voice), Steve Dixon (the passionate rhythmic drummer), Baba Elefante (celebrated bassist and composer) and Ron Kobayashi (super-dedicated pianist and composer). Together they make magic.

This is not just your ordinary, garden-variety holiday music CD, nosiree! Of course, it will play in your CD player just fine and will provide an exotic and exciting array of Christmas offerings in the process. In addition, when you pop the CD into your computer, you will discover that it is an interactive CD-ROM. As such, you enter Gathering's digital world, where you can play the songs--and explore the history, credits, lyrics, and production notes while caught in the beautiful music's spell. You can also link to related internet sites and obtain information about each individual artist, sharing their thoughts and experiences. The interactive element adds a totally new level of engagement and enjoyment.

Describing the ultimate product is a challenge. Several pieces are classic jazz (including the opening "Carol of the Bells," "We Three Kings," and a very funky "Little Drummer Boy"); other tunes have a strong new age aura, using ethereal synthesized sounds and vocal tones ("Shalom" and "A Thousand Candles"). One song is cleanly Celtic ("Gathering") with some great fiddlin'; another sways with Caribbean influences ("Mary's Little Boy Child"). Kate Peters demonstrates her Broadway musical singing chops on "Candle in the Snow."

My favorite cut among the 12 tracks is the dramatic "Coventry Carol," which has an orchestrated flavor similar to Mannheim Steamroller and carries through with excellent vocals. It's a wonderful piece.

"Gathering: A Holiday Celebration" deserves high marks for creativity, dynamic multiculturalism, and musical virtuosity. It's an impressive package.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2004)

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From the liner notes:

Musicians:

Kate Peters began her professional career as a vocalist at the age of twelve. Now, with Gathering, she reconnects with her first love--the violin.

Steve Dixon: Audiences love to watch drummer Steve Dixon weave his rhythmic magic on stage. He was once voted by a group of peers, "most likely to have a great time playing" and if you've seen him live you know why.

Baba Elefante: Bassist and composer Baba Elefante was voted one of the nation's top bass players in a Bass Player Magazine poll. His studio work spans television, movies and records, including the 1995 Universal movie The Hunted. He has recorded with jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove, saxophonists Pete Christlieb and Brandon Fields, "Yes" keyboardist Patrick Morax, Justo Almario and "Kansas" lead vocalist John Elefante.

Ron Kobyashi: Pianist, composer, and co-founder of Carpet Cat Records, Ron Kobayashi has been described as one of the hardest working and most dedicated musicians on the local scene&. He has been featured on the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather and was a performer on the internationally distributed "Johnny Yune" television show.

From the promotional materials:

"Gathering" is a collection of musicians that have come together in celebration of diversity and collective imagination. Accomplished in the areas of jazz, classical, rock and folk music, we combine diverse, indigenous musical instruments with traditional jazz, folk, rock and classical music structures, producing interesting and heartfelt meditations, sounds, and grooves.

Gathering

A Holiday Celebration

Artist link

Track List