Simple Gifts is a collection of instrumental versions of the songs of the Shakers, a charismatic Christian sect that flourished in the United States in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Guitarist William Coulter and cellist Barry Phillips are both members of the acoustic group Orison, and they draw on a pool of fellow Gourd-label musicians to support them, as well as Windham Hill artist Mike Marshall who appears on nearly all the tracks playing mandolin, mandocello, violin or viola. From the very familiar to the relatively obscure, this is a charming album that mixes the simplicity and liveliness of American folk music with the elegant reverence of hymns. ~ Backroads Music/Heartbeats, All Music Guide
