Just in time for the holidays, Mountain Fever Records has released Have A Merry Berry Christmas, the latest recording by Heather Berry. Featuring a mixture of bluegrass (Christmas Time’s A Coming), pop (Blue Christmas, Pretty Paper), country (If We Make It Through December, Christmas In Dixie, New Kid In Town), and traditional numbers (Little Town of Bethlehem), all songs feature a sparse accompaniment with the focus entirely on the song and Heather Berry’s vocal talents.
While I have not seen her perform live, it appears from her website that she performs as a duo with her husband, multi-instrumentalist Tony Mabe. Following this pattern, all of the songs feature Heather on vocals and guitar, with additional instrumentation provided primarily by Tony. One song includes fiddle by Merle Johnson, and one includes an uncredited piano accompaniment.
Listeners expecting vocal harmony, a fuller band sound, or some new twist on these familiar favorites might be disappointed with this recording. However, Heather Berry has gained a faithful following and significant recognition for her vocal ability, and that voice is featured nicely in a collection of beloved Christmas songs. If you’re looking for some softer acoustic Christmas music to play while you curl up on a couch in front of the fire and enjoy your egg nog, this may be the CD for you.
