What a nice idea! Pianist Jacqueline Schwab draws from her deep American music roots, applies her considerable (and consistently tasteful) pianistic skills, and comes up with what is bound to be one of this holiday season's most attractive and eminently listenable discs. Here are 17 personal interpretations of "Appalachian hymns and American carols, parlor songs, and spirituals", played without any artificial sonics, electronic gimmicks, or superfluous orchestrations. It's just Schwab and her piano, performing in a style that borders on improvisation, but keeps faithfully to each tune so that we easily can follow along. And one of the most welcome aspects of the program is that there's a pleasing mix of songs we actually know--such as "It came upon a midnight clear", "Away in a manger", "O little town of Bethlehem", "I wonder as I wander", "Mary, what you gonna call your pretty little baby"--along with some unfamiliar gems--"Down came an angel", "Bright morning stars are rising", and "Brightest and best". If you recognize the gently arpeggiated playing style, then you're remembering Schwab's acclaimed accompaniments to the Ken Burns documentaries "The Civil War", "Baseball", and "Lewis and Clark", among others. This is an excellent Christmas disc that will play well anytime. [12/23/2000]

--David Vernier