“With affecting arrangements, and spirited live performance, Terry Posthumus’ Advent Sessions offers a fresh, rootsy, and gladdening quin of Advent songs to lead us through hope, peace, joy and love to Christ.”
Following the successful reception of his second album, “Nothing That Compares,” Terry Posthumus has teamed up with Ken Michell (Mandolin, Banjo), Sahra Featherstone (Violin, Whistles), David Morrison (Dobro) and Brandon Davis (Bass) to record, “Advent Sessions” The rich audio and lush video, recorded live at Knox Presbyterian Church in Toronto, ON, were captured and produced by Current Session Productions.
“Great music for sitting around the Christmas tree with family and friends. Add this to your Christmas collection!”
When Terry decided to record this album it was with the idea that Advent is at odds with what our society focusses on in preparation for Christmas. The project became a sort of “push back” against a consumer-driven culture and what started as a vague concept and a rough idea for a single song has become a full-blown pursuit of passion for Terry.
Musically, Terry both polished and expanded his approach, retaining his “rootsy” Americana sound on “Prince of Peace,” a loop-based anthem laced with indelible melodies and rich harmonies. “With Joy,” a lively “jig,” is a full-blown fusion of Bluegrass and Celtic stylings which calls to mind Union Station and Rend Collective. “Love Is Revealed,” based on Micah 6:8, is both a gentle lullaby and a wistful prayer indicative of the themes that encompass the promise, preparation and penitence associated with Advent.
In scope, palette, and composition, “Advent Sessions” is an engaging musical celebration of the Advent season, culminating with the celebration of the Christ-child on Christmas day. Devotionally, the album follows the week-by-week progression of Advent. For instance, “The Promised One” revolves around the scriptural prophesies of the coming Messiah. Lyrically, the songs on “Advent,” draw a focus on the incarnation, the in-dwelling and the coming again, of “the Promised One, our Prince of Peace.”
“The season of Advent calls out to Humanity to wake up to hope. The songs of this album capture the longing of our hearts that Advent awakens.”
“Terry combines your love of stringed instruments with strong theological lyrics to pain in a beautiful picture of what Christmas really is, for your ears and your heart.”