westword.com T he E dg e W i n t e r G u i de 2 0 2 3 -2 4 W E S T W O R D 29 Grammy-nominated composer and musician David Arkenstone returns to Colorado this winter with a brand-new live show to get you into the holiday spirit. A Winter’s Eve With David Arkenstone & Friends, a whimsical showcase of Arkenstone’s cinematic instrumental music, premieres in Den- ver on December 1 at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts. Joined by brilliant musicians Josh Gilgoff, Laurann Woods, Kimberly Zaleski and Emily Elkin, Arkenstone will play a total of eight shows around Colorado before heading to Arizona and New Mexico. Opening night of A Winter’s Eve will mark the first time that Arkenstone performs songs from his new album, Winterlüde, which was inspired by his travels throughout Colorado last year. “I’ve been thinking about doing a winter album for a while, and then we played in Colorado last year and I thought, ‘Oh, man, this is gorgeous,’” he recalls. “We got to play in a couple of towns in the mountains, and when you see them like that, it puts a lot of things in perspective.” Winter- lüde captures the feelings Arkenstone gets when picturing an idyllic white winter, translating them into what he describes as “Impressionistic sound paintings.” He’s excited to share this sonic experience with a live audience, starting in the place where the album first took shape in his mind: “I’m look- ing forward to going back to Colora- do, especially after the influence that it had on this new record. It’s going to be fun to play that music in the place that helped inspire it.” In addition to Winterlüde, A Winter’s Eve will feature selections from some of Arkenstone’s past holiday albums. “I try to mix it up between new music and arrangements that I’ve done reimagining people’s favorite songs. We do a bunch of those, as well as some of my winter-themed music that I’ve written over the years,” he says. Throughout his illustrious career, Arkenstone has reinterpreted many beloved holiday classics, imbuing them with a fresh energy while honoring the spirit of the origi- nals. “I’m not out to change history; I’m just trying to put my spin on it — what the song means to me and how I would like to hear it,” he explains. “‘The Arabian Dance,’ for example, is very close to the way it is in the ballet, but we add some percussion elements and the bass flute, which adds a mystical flavor to the whole song. When we play ‘Deck the Halls,’ it’s more of a Celtic dance version. It depends on the song, but they’re always recognizable.” A Winter’s Eve combines the festive spirit of the holidays with the contem- plative mood that falls toward the end of each year. “It’s like a celebration of the season, even though we do a couple songs that are more reflec- tive. People reflect during winter and take stock not just of the year that’s passed, but of their whole lives,” Arkenstone says. “I love touring during the holidays, because people are usually in a good mood. People somehow reach down and connect with other people during this time in a beautiful way.” He and his band strive to create an intimate setting even in a large theater, invoking the cozy at- mosphere of a fireside gathering with unique touches like their “campfire set,” he adds, when “we come down front and sit as close as we can to the audience and play acoustically, like an old-style band at a pub.” Despite the difficulties of life on the road, he and the band are ecstatic to be back on tour. “We’re moving around, and that part can be chal- lenging, but during the time that we spend on stage, we are as alive as you can be. Musicians are made to play for people. When we get to do that, it’s infectious. We connect with each other and have a great time, and that spills over into the audience,” Arkenstone says. “It ends up being a very fun evening — for us, too.” Visit davidarkenstone.com for A Win- ter’s Eve tickets and more information. EMBRACE THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT WITH DAVID ARKENSTONE & FRIENDS ADVERTORIAL
