Album Notes

COMFORT & JOY conjures the hope, spirit and magic of the winter season with holiday favorites such as "Holly and the Ivy," "What Child is This?" as well as music by Bizet, Berlioz, Corelli and others that evokes feelings of the winter months. Detroit musicians Kerstin Allvin and Jeff Zook arranged many of the selections and these innovative tracks are brought to life with the help of their friends in the Michigan classical and jazz music community. From the press: Zook's resonant flute tone and suave phrasing melt lovingly inside Allvin's clearly articulated harp. David Taylor's percussion adds color and oomph, and several of Zook's colleagues from the Detroit Symphony join in on Arcangelo Corelli's gentle Christmas Concerto. The overall mood is relaxed and peaceful, and it's to the duo's credit that the music reduces holiday stress without inducing a somnolent stupor. Mark Strkyer - Free Press For the spirit of the season couched in first-class musicianship, look no further than this animated, yet elegant, program of duets. Allvin, harpist with the Flint Symphony, and Zook, who plays in the Detroit Symphony, offer 19 carols and classical selections in tasteful arrangements warmly recorded. Lawrence Johnson - Detroit News Kerstin Allvin has won numerous awards and competitions and has performed at Carnegie Recital Hall and at the historic Carmel Mission in California. She toured Japan as a soloist, giving concerts at the prestigious Suntory Hall in Tokyo and was invited to play the inaugural concerts at Nogi City's new concert hall, and for Toyota City's Sister City Association. She has been featured soloist with the Toyota, Ohmiya City, Pontiac-Oakland, Flint,Warren, Adrian Symphonies and the Lyric Chamber Ensemble of Detroit. She released a compact disc of original material entitled "Origins" on JBX Records which received national airplay, securing a position at number five in the Jazz/New Age category in "JAZZIZ" magazine. She has also released a classical solo compact disc with music of Rota, Bach, Debussy, Tournier and Hartway. Miss Allvin was guest Principal Harpist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on their European tour in October 2001 and also at the Detroit Symphony's summer home, Meadow Brook Music Festival in 2000. Her latest CD "An Affair with the Harp" is being released in January, 2004. Jeffery Zook has been a member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra flute section since 1992 and has served on the faculty of the University of Michigan School of Music and Oakland University. Mr. Zook has been a prizewinner in many competitions, including the National Concerto Competition sponsored by General Motors, the William Byrd National Concerto Competition, the National Flute Association Young Artists Competition and the National Endowment for the Advancement of the Arts' Recognition and Talent Search. He was guest piccoloist with the Boston Symphony on a tour of Japan under conductor Seigi Ozawa. He made his solo debut with the Detroit Symphony in 1982, and once again soloed with DSO in June, 2003 in a concert featuring Vivaldi's Piccolo Concerto in C. Mr. Zook, along with DSO flutist Sharon Sparrow have founded the Detroit Flute Connection, a monthly flute class in the Detroit area.