Gloria is the much-anticipated Christmas album from pianist/composer-extraordinaire Neil Patton. The eleven tracks include ten sacred carols and one original piece, and three are duets with Neil’s wife, Cathy Patton, on flute and piccolo. I always find it fascinating when an artist can bring something new and original to some of these very time-worn carols, but Neil really dusted them off and made them new again without changing them too much. His expressive playing tells the Christmas stories with a fresh voice overflowing with heart and deep love. Cathy’s flute and piccolo bring soulful additions to the music and take it soaring. (I understand that Neil and Cathy are working on a project together and I can’t wait to hear it when it’s ready!)

Gloria begins with “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” one of my favorite carols. I love the haunting quality of the melody, and Neil keeps that front and center with a very simple left-hand accompaniment and gentle rhythm. There is an original passage in the middle of the piece and then the second half of the arrangement is bolder and more dramatic - excellent from start to finish! Neil’s arrangement of “Joy To the World” is ebullient and euphoric - piano magic! “Still, Still, Still” is one of the quieter tracks, and overflows with a peaceful kind of grace. The first of the duets, “What Child Is This?” begins with a very delicate piano solo played in the upper half of the piano keyboard. The flute takes the melody for the second verse, followed by a powerful piano interlude that also becomes a duet before returning to the melody - so soulful! Like “Joy to the World,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” is a dramatic expression of joyful celebration and Neil really lets his fingers fly on this one - great stuff! I wasn’t familiar with “The Christ Child Lullaby,” a traditional Scottish carol. Quoting Neil: “This piece marks a return to the sense of awe in holding God in one’s arms and singing Him a lullaby. I tried to capture the sound of the eternal breaking into the temporal, not as a king, but as a fragile baby born into poverty.” Tenderness flows from every note. “Gabriel’s Message” begins with a soulful flute solo, then solo piano and then piano and piccolo. The last section of the piece becomes a trio for piano, flute and piccolo. I wasn’t familiar with this carol, either, and look forward to learning it! “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” returns to the very familiar carols with original passages woven into the traditional melody. “Emmanuel (God With Us)” is Neil’s original carol and is one of the first duets Neil wrote for himself and Cathy. Soaring and heartfelt, it fits right in with the traditional carols and yet is outstanding in its own right! Another outburst of joy and celebration, “Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella” also includes original passages woven into the familiar melody. The album closes with a slow, peaceful and very tender arrangement of “Silent Night” - the perfect ending to an absolutely incredible album!

Gloria is available to download or stream from Amazon and AppleMusic/ iTunes, as well as from streaming platforms including Spotify and Pandora. There is also a songbook that can be ordered as a printed book or downloaded from Neil’s website. I give Gloria my highest recommendation!