Ave Maria

The music, and {Trevor's} Stick sound and performance style, is inspiring and uplifting, and of course, perfect for Holiday listening.
-Emmett Chapman- inventor of the Chapman Stick

A review by master Chapman Stickist Greg Howard...

Grand, majestic and serene are probably the best ways to describe this CD of familiar Christmas music by Trevor Stewart. The twelve selections are all familiar sacred pieces like "O Come, Emmanuel" and "O, Holy Night." The natural sound of Trevor's solo Stick varies subtly, reminding the listener sometimes of a classical guitar, a harpsichord and cathedral organ, all bathed in a deep, spacious reverb that's perfect for the contemplative nature of his interpretations, but without overwhelming the playing.

Stewart, who performs regularly around his home of Wichita, Kansas, has a great reserve of technique that he draws on for delicate ornamentation and flourishes that keep things moving along, even though the pace is relaxed.

It's a perfectly titled disc, and a great addition to the growing library of holiday Stick music.

About the Chapman Stick...

The Chapman Stick (R) is a unique musical instrument invented by Emmett Chapman in 1969. It consists of a long fret board with twelve strings spanning a bass and guitar range. Sound is produced when the strings are "tapped" against the frets by the fingers. An electronic pickup is used to amplify the sounds. This new technique allows the musician to use both hands in order to play multiple parts like a piano while having the direct fingers-to-strings control and feel similar to a guitar. The model of Stick that Trevor uses utilizes a MIDI pickup on the upper strings which can trigger a synthesizer while simultaneously playing the natural sound of the Stick. Mr. Chapman continues to manufacture the Stick at his home in Woodland Hills, CA. See www.stick.com for more information about the Stick.

Trevor Stewart has been playing the Chapman Stick since October of 1998. Previous study on the guitar, piano and viola led to a quick adaptation on the Stick. Trevor studied music composition and performance at Wichita State University. Frequently performing in Wichita he is one of the very few "Stickist's" residing in Kansas. Primarily performing solo, he has also contributed to various groups and projects- such as the Native-American music group Passing Through which was nominated for an Native American Music Award in 2006 and an Indian Summer Music award in 2005. He has also played viola with world music group Equinox. Music from Trevor’s album Love/Fire/Serenity (also available here) served a large part in the soundtrack of the 2007 regional public television documentary ‘Flint Hills: Meditations from a Kansas Prairie’.