Ocean: Songs for the Night Sea Journey - Artist: Jennifer Cutting,   Label: Sun Sign Records  Review After an arduous seven long years, Ocean: Songs for the Night Sea Journey, Jennifer Cutting's extraordinary album of a nautical journey, sails into our hearts and spirits to bring us joy, peace and pleasure. The Celtic-based melodies are so pleasing and unique that we really have no fear that the world is flat. To the rigging! Best track: My Grief on the Sea.

1 Voice  - Artist: Seay    Label: Tuscan Sun Music   Review We were blessed with the exalted voice of newcomer Seay this year. Her album 1 Voice is a wondrous blend of organic and Celtic elements that produces some truly delightful music. There are songs for our every mood and our many dreams. We await her next album with true anticipation. Best track: Angelica.

The Other Life I Dream - Artist: Timothy Crane,   Label: Eagles Nest  Review If strength in music could be measured, then Timothy Crane would be responsible for a truly Herculean effort with his album The Other Life I Dream. He is a purveyor of unusual clarity. His contemporary music offers a portrait of lyrical beauty and deep serenity as he infuses his passion and faith into every note. Best track: The Poetic Fields

Touch the Sun  - Artist: Eric McCarl ,   Label: Weaving Libra Records  Review Eric McCarl's third and final episode of his Trilogy of Light series culminates with one of his best works ever, Touch the Sun. McCarl tunefully awakens the strong spirit and courage that slumbers in all of us. He takes us full circle though the onerous journey of life with the belief than we can achieve. Inspirational. Best track: My Father.

Touch - Artist: Falling You,   Label: Magnatune / Fossil Dungeon  Review Never was I more pleased than to be introduced to musical genius John Michael Zorko's album Touch. Featuring six excruciatingly impassioned and inspired female composer/vocalists and Zorko's amazing musical collaborations, the unique consequence is almost impossible to categorize except to say that are all outstanding. Best track: Less Likely to Believe.

West of Eden  - Artist: Vance Sheaks,   Label: Imagineer Records  Review Deeply romantic and thought-provoking, guitarist and composer Vance Sheaks gave us incredible beauty with his album West of Eden. Ethereal voice, guitar synthesizer and a haunting score to many of the songs, the music will leave you breathless. This album is far from the ordinary and most welcome to the soul. Best track: A Gentle Summer Rain.

Meadow Run  - Artist: Clarelynn Rose,   Label: Heartwood Music  Review Guitarist extraordinaire Clarelynn Rose presents her album Meadow Run. It is chock full of pastoral beauty with Celtic and World inspired tunes that feature her astonishing guitar playing. She sweats the details to produce intricate themes that will lull the spirit into a world of warmth and beauty. One of the best surprises of the year. Best track: Night Tide.

Lingering Light  - Artist: Jeff Pearce,   Label: Jeff Pearce Music  Review Take a very unusual instrument, The Chapman Stick; add some creative compositions that touch the heart and mix in a bit of musical genius and you have guitarist Jeff Pearce's release Lingering Light. Such a soothing sound was never heard until Jeff touched the frets and we are rewarded with an album peaceful, flowing splendor that really does take you away. Best track: In the Quiet Days Before.

Elements Series: Air, Earth, Fire, and Water  - Artist: Peter Kater,   Label: Real Music  Review Pianist and composer Peter Kater astonished me with his 4-disc series of albums The Elements Series: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. I have enjoyed a lot of acoustic music to date, but I have never heard a more consistent, more relaxing and more seamless series that remains so true to the adult contemporary/New Age genre. Best track: Earth: Celestine.

A Quiet Revolution: 30 Years of Windham Hill  - Artist: Various Artists,                                                                                         Label: Windham Hill/ Legacy The best of the best are showcased in this ground breaking 2-disc anthology by new and old Windham Hill artists on A Quiet Revolution. You can musically follow the birth, growth and maturation of one of the biggest and best labels in the genre. Everyone from founder/guitarist Will Ackerman to legendary pianist George Winston to newcomers Jim Brickman and the subdudes. This is musical history. Best track: Aerial Boundaries.