Christmas is nearly upon us and celebrators of the season are already in the depths of holiday cheer and warm music. Contributing to this year's holiday spread is folk performer, Fritz Schindler with A Folk 'n' Roll Christmas. The EP opens with a Celtic influenced rendition of "Little Drummer Boy." While the track has a very strong methodical opening, it quickly changes course with a more upbeat jig feel. This thankfully doesn't harm the song per se, however the original song lends itself to a more subdued sound rather than overly energetic. "Let It Snow," showcases a more lighthearted yet controlled bluegrass sound. A special note should be made about guest vocalist, Sammi Lytton; her vocals match the instrumentation perfectly and gives the rendition a very rich sound. Building off the light sounds of the season with a more reflective tone is "Away in A Manger." The soft and simple music gives the track a very welcoming sound that doesn't distract from the heart of the song. "Angels We Have Heard On High" concludes the album by returning to the upbeat realm of Christmas music, however, it feels slightly choppy in the interludes. Regardless, this is an arrangement that many a church would benefit from in a Christmas production. As a whole, the short collection of holiday classics hasn't been altered beyond recognition, which for this reviewer is a good thing, however they don't leave as much of a lasting impact. Nevertheless, Schindler is producing some solid holiday music with this short EP that any fans of folk music will be pleased with. Merry Christmas, everyone!

- Review date: 12/13/15, written by Ryan Barbee of Jesusfreakhideout.com