By its nature, "What Child Is This?" requires a certain solemnity. With its minor key melody, it can't help but feel downcast. That doesn't mean, however, that it can't be sung or played with an undercurrent of optimism. Ronny Smith pulls this off in his jazz guitar rendition. In a tempo that's neither too fast nor too slow, Smith plays the carol in a mellow, melancholy style, similar to Kenny Burrell.
This reverential but less stately version of "What Child Is This?" stays true to the carol's intent without sounding overly grim. Smooth jazz listeners will likely agree that this is an ideal middle ground.
