::ALBUM REVIEW::

Yolanda Adams, being one of modern gospel’s best-selling artists, has had to endure the hardship of keeping a music home. She has floated from Tribute/Benson to Verity during the 1990s. An impressive transition took place on the brink of a new decade; allowing her to sit within the lucrative roster of Elektra Records with notable Sylvia Rhone overseeing her newfound success in the mainstream. Suddenly, Elektra was dismantled by their parent company - Warner Music Group; giving Adams the boot. She switched to Atlantic to release just one album: 2005's Day By Day. Guess where she is now - she’s on Sony/Columbia. And her first release on the label is a ten-track holiday album aptly entitled What A Wonderful Time. It’s hard looking at the project and coming to grips that the album is just a holiday adventure based on the album’s title and outside golden imagery. There’s barely a trace of Christmas buoyancy found on the outside cover - besides Adams’ charming wardrobe and camera-friendly smile. But deep beneath the disc’s content, she leaps into a magical array of fun jazz, adult contemporary arrangements and pop-gospel bolstered by impressive production from Michael J. Powell (Anita Baker) and Maxx Frank (Commssioned, 98 Degrees).

The album opens with Powell’s jazzy-seasoned arrangement of Hammerstein/Rodgers’ “My Favorite Things” - remembered selection from 1959's The Sound of Music. Obvious addition within the lyrics, after naming the original choices of past time favorites, is Adams’ insertion of the phrase “and love...love is my favorite thing.” Michael Mindingall, longtime keyboardist for Thomas Whitfield, joins the musical affair in delivering that mature Detroit vibe that suits well on Adams’ brilliant vocals. Over the years, “My Favorite Things” has become a standard for the holiday season with its wintertime imagery and the couple of lines that lists “doorbells and sleigh bells...snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes” as a “few of my favorite things.” Different choice for Adams, but a sharp and innovative way to open Adam’s new holiday album. The warm arrangement of the Jackson 5's 1970 classic “Give Love On Christmas Day”, another wise choice, sets Adams in comfortable pop territory as she sings with exuberant beauty that “no greater gift is there than love.” The jingle bells and the grazing of wind chimes inserted into the elaborate rendition gives the song that extra holiday spark - sounding more Christmas-sy than the Motown original. Big band swings, accompanied by Sharay Reed’s impressive upright bass and killer drum work from Calvin Rodgers, jolts the Maxx Frank-penned title cut. “Jingle Bells”, using the same big band sound, finds Adams rocking the arrangement with the poignant delivery of Ella Fitzgerald and Nancy Wilson.

The album may have a number of secular favorites on board, but a few Christian favorites and originals are certainly available including a sincere smooth soul reworking of “Do You Hear What I Hear” and a dramatic Latin pop twist on “Little Drummer Boy.” The encouraging “Hold On”, produced by Stan Jones and featuring percussion work from Warryn Campbell, may feel out of place since the song bears no connection to the holiday season, but it does a good job in placing Adams in familiar areas - singing inspirational music set to R&B-tinged gospel. “With God” speaks of God’s existence and all-powerful sovereignty from the perspective of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

It’s A Wonderful Time showcases marvelous depth to the type of artistry Adams is capable of pulling off. She journeys through mature adult contemporary cuts that merit the approval of her older fanbase. And even though big gospel numbers and a heavy load of classic carols are absent on this round - something that highlighted her 2000 Christmas With Yolanda Adams album - she is still doing what is suitable to the kind of legend she has created for her career. Not as balanced as Christmas With Yolanda Adams, but still quite enjoyable and reflective.