Christmas: Holiday Music - Rhetta Akamatsu - Blogcritics.org

A standout among the songs is "Every Year At Christmas Time," which has a slightly urban feel and is sung soulfully by the female vocalist, Jeanmarie Rivera and which benefits from the sax provided by Thomas Sansone, who also provides the lovely flute for "I Wander as I Wander." Other standouts are "Christmas Time Is Here," which for most listeners will evoke the Peanuts gang, and "The Christmas Song," which will make listeners feel warm and fuzzy.

"O Holy Night," a beautiful but difficult song to sing, is also a highlight here, with that gorgeous high note near the end that is sure to send a thrill through you time and again by the Rev. Keith Outlaw.

Overall, this is a classy Christmas offering which will remind you of the great jazz singers of the recent past, such as Nat King Cole, Lena Horne, and Johnny Mathis. Certainly, it will make a welcome gift for yourself and others.

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