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Grover Washington
Breath of Heaven (Columbia) (star)
Various artists
Merry Axemas — A Guitar Christmas (Epic) (star)
These instrumental records by the smooth jazz saxophonist and a gallery of guitar heroes take predictable approaches and disappoint in predictable ways. Washington’s velvety tone conveys the familiar melodies nicely, but the easy-listening solos, twinkling keyboards and softly percolating funk rhythms quickly lull the listener into slumber. Still, it’s vastly preferable to the self-indulgent displays of virtuosity practiced by “Axemas” ringmaster Steve Vai and such cohorts as Jeff Beck, Richie Sambora and Joe Satriani, whose mauling of “Silent Night” is the record’s low point.