Merry Christmas from Alaska

The riddle for Kurt Riemann went something like this, "What do you get when you cross Alaska's top singers and musicians, classic Christmas tunes and the Providence Children's Hospital?"

The answer is "Merry Christmas from Alaska 3: The Journey Home," a delightful collection of Christmas music, conceived and produced by Riemann, that not only puts you in the holiday mood, but also benefits the Providence Children's Hospital in the process.

The CD, which was recently released, is the third in a series of Christmas albums Riemann's Nightworks Records have produced over the last few years.

The first two "Merry Christmas from Alaska" releases in the series have included such notable Alaskan artists as Larry Zarella, Will Triplett, Robin Hopper and the band Nervis Rex. Both have been wildly popular, becoming two of the fastest-selling Alaska CDs in the process.

The third CD in the series takes the lineup of the first two releases and goes one step further by adding Hobo Jim, arguably Alaska's best-known recording artist, and country sensation Ken Peltier, a Valley musician who has developed quite a following within the state.

The result is a CD that has many styles and appeals to a wide range of audiences.

"I've always liked how classic Christmas songs translate across less obvious styles. It's fun to hear how a great country artist like Ken Peltier approaches 'It Came Upon the Midnight Clear,'" Riemann said. "It works because it's a meaningful song in the first place, and Ken really brings a new flavor to it."

Blending all those styles together into a package that everyone would enjoy proved to be the largest task for Riemann.

"Molding this into its final shape was the ultimate test," Riemann said. "It was a little like building a miniature Christmas village, complete with all the characters. And a train set."

When Hobo Jim found out Riemann was recording a third CD in the "Merry Christmas from Alaska" series, he made a phone call, with his intentions clearly defined for the organizers of the project.

"He left us a message letting us know that not only was he going to be doing the album, period, he was going to sing 'Silent Night,' period," Riemann said. "He's awesome, period."

The CD contains 15 classical Christmas songs, such as "Do You Hear What I Hear?" "The 12 Days of Christmas," and "Silent Night." Woven throughout the songs, however, are short soundscapes of someone traveling home, carrying a bell.

The person can be heard walking over a bridge, riding on horseback, passing by on a train, walking down the street, entering a church and concert and finally returning home.

It is part of the entire journey home theme, The destination of the bell ringer is revealed in the final track on the CD, called "Christmas Time," performed by Melissa Fischer.

"We all liked the idea of the journey home," Riemann said. "A great many people in Alaska live so far from where they grew up. We wanted to make a reassuring connection to those memories."

As much as the CD is about Christmas, it is also about helping other people. A portion of the proceeds will go to Providence Children's Hospital.

"At the age of seven, Kathryn Petros was diagnosed with cancer. Thanks to the work of those at what is now Children's Hospital at Providence, Kathryn is now considered cured, and at age 15 is our special guest harpist on 'The 12 Days of Christmas,'" the liner notes of the CD read.

The CD includes the work of the following Alaskan artists: MJ Riemann, Hobo Jim (with Michael Johnson), Capriccio, Eric Braendel, Kurt Riemann, Peltier, Camille Conte, Y El Combo Latino, Marge Ford, The Backstreet Blues Band, Liesl Davenport, Catherine Hoffer, Sharon Mitchell and Melissa Fisher. The Twelve Days of Christmas Orchestra also performs on the CD.

All of the music was digitally recorded in Anchorage at Surreal Studios/Nightwork Records.

The CD will be available at local music stores. People can also order it online at www.nightworks.com. It has gotten rave reviews since its release.

"Alaskan musicians hit the mark with the latest release in the 'Merry Christmas from Alaska' series," wrote Carol Dunphy. "Perhaps it is because we are so familiar with the songs or maybe it's just how the season brings out the best in all of us, but this CD shines like the topmost light on the tree."

This volume is not the last of the popular "Merry Christmas from Alaska" series, either.

"We've already started on the next one," Reimann said. "Our journey continues."

Nightwork Records also have produced other albums from notable Alaskan musicians such as Zarella, Nervis Rex and Medicine Dream.