Kirk Franklin & the Family
Christmas

Kirk easily takes the cake with this holiday teaser. Full of luxurious updated styles of urban R&B and contemporary gospel, even a twist of traditional stuff, makes this one a true delight. Hearing "The Night That Christ Was Born", "Oh Come All Ye Faithful", "Go Tell It On The Mountain" and "Silent Night" each holiday season is good enough to compete against any Christmas collection. But, of course, the major stand-outs (the classic hit, "Now Behold The Lamb" and the radio-friendly "Jesus Is The Reason For The Season") help launch this project into music history. A first for a Christmas project to reach the top ten on Billboard. Plus, there's barely a dry track here.

Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers
Hello Christmas

What burns me the most about this project is that this was D. Lawrence at his finest. His creative zenith. Amazing holiday cheer and festive sounds are granted on the bulk of these cuts, and the mellow album opener, "Can You Hear The Angels" guaranteed bountiful happiness to listeners as its seductive charm almost glides you straight to Bethlehem. Men of Standard joins along on the moving "Love's Holiday", while Lawrence pulls out some creative perks on the arrangements of "Carol Of The Bells", "The Little Drummer Boy" and "We Didn't Know". Plus Thomas Whitfield's rendition of "Little Drummer Boy" can be found on here. Make no mistake about it, this collection is full of lovely moments. Some are good enough to hear all year round, such as the engaging "Absent From The Body (In The Presence Of A King"). Just magical.

Various Artists
The Real Meaning Of Christmas

Projects featuring a big list of artists can be scary at times, but this one puts to rest those worries. The album cover art is strong enough to appeal to most music consumers, but on the inside is where the action starts. Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir leads the pack with his two contemporary cuts: "Born To Die" and "More Than A Holiday", while Fred Hammond delights with his original cuts "He Is The Reason" and "Go Gabriel". Hammond also craftes a wonderful opener, "Suddenly", which houses a mega-list of gospel heroes including Kim Rutherford, Angelo & Veronica and Commissioned. By the way, listen to Commissioned's "4 Real Christmas" and enjoy. The Colorado Mass Choir, in their early days, are found here and are full of gospel brilliance on the title cut and "King Of Israel" (which also features praise-and-worship leader Gary Oliver). Some of these cuts have recirculated during the course of time on Verity's Christmas compilations, but this collection is where the good stuff originated.

James Hall & Worship and Praise
A James Hall Christmas

Jazz it up this holiday with the groovy sounds of the underground gospel favorite, James Hall. What makes this project stand out the most is that its uniquely different from the rest; exposing a world to forgotten genres such as Big Band jazz, extravagant classical sounds and delicate chord progressions. The album takes off with the classical-driven "We Three Kings", while infectious contemporary jams such as "Unto Us A Child Is Born", "Joy To The World" and Melvin Crispell's "The King Has Come" lay down a satisfying foundation for Hall's audience. "What A Miracle" is purely jazz (featuring Hall's vocals). Look out for "Whiter Than Snow"; one of the cuts you can worship too all year 'round. Gotta love it. The album flows like a traditional James Hall project, except it's a studio project and its not as infectious as the live stuff, but the choral harmonies of Worship and Praise are left untouched, which is terriffic.

Richard Smallwood with Vision
Rejoice

Two problems here. Too short of a project (docking at forty-six minutes) and Richard Smallwood's studio production isn't as upscale as his live stuff. Maybe this was another mandatory contractual agreement project. Regardless of what the situation was, "Rejoice" is neatly sown together with glorious holiday arrangements, well-crafted originals, defined choral chops. Classical styles are always a go for Richard Smallwood projects, and this holiday collection is no exception. "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" and Smallwood's piano solo on the seven-minute "Christmas Medley" is sure to please the tradtional holiday crowd. "O What A Night", "Glory And Honor" and "O Holy Night" are definite standouts.

Various Artists
A Family Christmas

Another short project, but because this was a live recording and features a neat list of Malaco and Savoy Records' finest, we forgive them. The Mississippi Mass Choir provides ample background substance to the majority of the tracks, yet opens things up with the jubilant rendition of "Go Tell It On The Mountain", which features Lillian Lily on lead vocals. Rev. Timothy Wright jumps in on "Oh What A Pretty Little Baby" and LaShun Pace delights ears with "Love Came Down At Christmas". LaShun also joins up with the Anointed Pace Sisters on the moving "Celebrating New Life"; which successfully blends together a medley of Christmas classics. Of course, this album is a collector's item since the late Rev. James Moore and the late Willie Neal Johnson also appears on here, but overlooking those truths, this album is one of a kind; especially since it is a live recording of Christmas gospel. You can't get any better than that.

Yolanda Adams
Christmas With Yolanda Adams

Elektra Records decided to shoot this one out at the right time (after her very successful 1998 Grammy winner Mountain High, Valley Low). But tucked within this collection of neat, textured arrangements are glittery gems including the spunky opener "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", "Silent Night", "The Christmas Song" and "O Holy Night", which all showcase Adams' signature rich, emotive voice and passionate delivery. Of course, "Born This Day" is the only original cut offered here, but Adams attacks this song in the form used on her previous hits such as "The Battle Is The Lord's" and "My Liberty". The closing culmination on "Joy Medley" is a spiritual oddysey in itself and a wonderful way to close out an excellent studio project for the holiday.

John P. Kee & the New Life Community Choir
A Special Christmas Gift

The Prince of Gospel presents a neat collection of holiday treasures. While some of the tunes here sound a bit outdated (late 80s) in terms of the keyboard patches and drum programming, the project suceeds and triumphs over a good bulk of gospel projects due to its careful flow and irresistable mix of contemporary gospel and old-school R&B. "Celebrate" opens things up with Kee's signature up-tempo contemporary sound, while Kee delights with listeners with stellar remakes of "The First Noel", "O Holy Night" and "Silent Night". Newer material such as "No Christmas Without You" and "Tell Me A Story" also impresses. This project also features guest apperances from Erick Matthews and Vanessa Bell Armstrong.

Thomas Whitfield & the Whitfield Company
The Annual Christmas Services

Another short project. Lordy! But the wealth presented on this collection of radiant holiday arrangements and Whitfield's amazing originals are worthy to gobble up all year 'round. The Whitfield Company presents raw and affectionate tones and harmonies on "Alleluia"; a majestic, yet complicated classical anthem. Contemporary music lovers will enjoy "Let The Joy Flow" and Whitfield's arrangement of "Silent Night". There are a few traditional cuts available such as the blazing, eight-minute "Go Tell It On The Mountain" and "Joy To The World", and that closing postlude will certainly baffle any true organist. This was the only official recording of Thomas Whitfield's annual Christmas services, so this is truly a collector's item.

Various Artists
Joy To The World: An Anointed Christmas

New Haven Records easily assembles some of gospel's mightiest juggernauts, as well as some of their roster's superstars for an adventure of carol arrangements neatly handled by album producers Nathan Young and Derrick Lee. Tramaine Hawkins brings forth delight on a spunky remake of "Angels We Have Heard On High" while Byron Cage cruises through a contemporary groove found on "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful". Above all, it is Ricky Dillard's New G that zooms to the forefront of the album's favorites with "Joy To The World". Other headliners include "Glory Be To God On High" from the legendary B.C. & M. Singers and Dottie Peoples' "Silent Night".