Breath of Heaven: A Holiday Collection


Breath of Heaven: A Holiday Collection is a Christmas compilation album by Grover Washington Jr., mostly on soprano saxophone, released in 1997 and nominated for a Grammy in 1998. Dawn Andrews contributes vocals and cello. Billy Childs contributes piano. It was also the last album released during his lifetime as he died less than three months later on December 17, 1999. His next album, Aria, was released posthumously on March 7, 2000.

Reception

Scott Yanow of AllMusic commented "For this set of Christmas-related songs, Grover Washington Jr. sounds soulful but restrained. The renditions are lightly funky, atmospheric, and generally quite dull. Billy Childs is excellent on piano, and the musicianship of the other players is fine, but the similarity of moods and grooves, along with the somber feel of most of the music, makes this a surprisingly tedious listen".

Track listing

  1. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" – 4:56
  2. "Breath of Heaven " – 6:59
  3. "The Love in His Infant Eyes" – 4:27
  4. "Away in a Manger" – 5:56
  5. "I Wonder as I Wander" – 5:23
  6. "Christmas Time Is Here" – 5:04
  7. "The Magi's Song/A Child Is Born" – 4:56
  8. "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" – 4:22
  9. "The Christmas Song" – 4:33
  10. "The Christmas Waltz" – 4:47
  11. "Christmas Day Chant" – 3:41
  12. "Breath of Heaven " – 5:18

Personnel

Production