Solstice

Formed in 1980, English band Solstice is first and foremost the band project of Andy Glass (guitar), the only musician participating on all the band's productions and the main composer for the band in it's various guises. Similar in style to such bands as Marillion, Twelfth Night, Pendragon, and IQ, they released five studio albums. Their first three studio albums were remastered and reissued with bonus tracks as ‘Definitive Editions’ in 2007.
Still fronted by guitarist Andy Glass, and also featuring Steve McDaniel (keyboards), Robin Phillips (bass), Pete Hemsley (drums), Jenny Newman (violin) and Emma Brown (vocals), the band’s iconic blend of soaring violin and guitar weaving around delicately passionate female vocals, underpinned by driving rhythmic complexity remains true and is much in force on "Prophecy” (2013), their latest studio offering.

Solstice celebrate their fortieth anniversary in 2020 and, to commemorate the occasion, are releasing only their sixth studio album, though there have been a couple of ‘live’ albums as well to boost the numbers. They’re also marking the occasion by introducing a new vocalist, Jess Holland, who has really made her presence felt on the new album and, with all respect to the previous incumbent, Emma Brown, Jess is a far superior vocalist and her presence here has really re-energised the band, resulting in Sia ( Gaelic for ‘six’ ) being amongst the best work Solstice has ever done. Earlier in 2020, in an interview with VT, Solstice mainman Andy Glass, now the only member of the original line-up still with the band, stated he thought the forthcoming album would be Solstice’s finest, and he certainly has a point…

Silver Solstice is a live album by Paul Winter Consort and Friends, released in 2005. In 2006, the album earned the group a Grammy Award for Best New Age Album. Recording of the 25th annual Winter Solstice concert from Paul Winter and a remarkable cast at St. John's Cathedral in New York. It's become a vital seasonal tradition, with music spanning the globe, from gospel to the Balkans, Irish to new age. In many ways it defies description, being so eclectic. For three decades, Paul Winter has put forth his musical vision of the community of the Earth, beginning with his landmark album Common Ground in the 1970s. Silver Solstice embraces the musical traditions of many cultures, and includes voices from what Winter calls "the greater symphony of the Earth" - whale, wolf and uirapuru (the musical wren of the Amazon rainforest) - a trilogy of voices representing the sea, the land, and the air.

Essential: A masterpiece of Fusion music collection
In 1985, Windham Hill released A Winter's Solstice, its first collection of non-traditional and traditional seasonal music.

Upon The Winter Solstice is a compilation album that was released exclusively at Kohl’s Department Stores during the 2013 holiday season. 100% of the proceeds go to the Kohl’s Cares charity to support kids’ health and education. This is not to be confused with the recently released Tales of Winter: Selections from the TSO Rock Operas compilation which covers all five TSO albums and one EP. So far, that’s an album that’s only been released in Europe anyway. Upon The Winter Solstice focuses solely on the group’s first three Christmas releases (known as the Christmas Trilogy): Christmas Eve and Other Stories, The Christmas Attic and The Lost Christmas.

Excellent addition to any Fusion music collection.
Depending on the mood you’re in, this compilation album will make you dream, smile, or cry a nostalgic tear. It is a typical Windham Hill sampler: wistful, joyful, lush, and lovely.