John Legend goes all out for the holidays with A Legendary Christmas
As his career continues ascending new heights, John Legend can unquestionably be deemed the consummate entertainer. For instance, Legend has now achieved the four prestigious entertainment awards in the Emmy, Tony, Oscar and Grammy, a remarkable achievement that even many superstars can not claim.
Fantasia | Christmas After Midnight
Concord Music
by Peggy Oliver
When it comes down to the annual barrage of holiday musical fare, music connoisseurs can be very fickle about their beloved artists singing Christmas set-in-stone standards. Sometimes the best intended orchestrations and re-constructions of hymns and pop pieces fails to elicit anything remarkable from past renditions.
A Very McCrary Christmas
The McCrary Foundation Choir
(Indi-Genius Music Group)
A Record Reflection by A. Scott Galloway
With the goal being to create a Christmas album for all the generation within your household, the world famous McCrary family of vocalists, musicians, songwriters, arrangers and record producers (Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Chaka Khan) glowingly succeed in their mission with a richly inspired and diversified 12-song collection of original and traditional offerings.
Merry Christmas from Andra Day
Andra Day
(Warner Bros.)
A Record Reflection by A. Scott Galloway
Andra Day has much to feel blessed for with the embrace of her 2015 debut album Cheers to the Fall, opening dates with Lenny Kravitz and a Grammy nomination.
Kenny Lattimore | A Kenny Lattimore Christmas
by Peggy Oliver
There are a lot of hit-making R&B vocalists who can effortlessly deliver the soulful goods. Yet when it comes to performing a holiday project that stretches across several genres, there are fewer who can successful step out of their comfort zone.
Bob Baldwin
The Gift of Christmas
(City Sketches)
A Record Reflection by A. Scott Galloway
Keyboardist/Producer Bob Baldwin eases us into the 2016 holiday season with some much needed aural relief via his 10 song offering, The Gift of Christmas. The CD opens with a pleasant jaunt through Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” then lifts off into space for a celestially reharmonized sojourn through Vince Guaraldi’s “Christmas Time is Here.”
Stanley Cowell – Reminiscent (Plus a Christmas Suite)
(SteepleChase)
A Record Reflection by A. Scott Galloway
The art of piano is all about touch. Over a fifty year career as a leader and sideman with the likes of Sonny Rolins, Stan Getz and Max Roach, Stanley Cowell has mastered an impeccable balance of intelligence and taste.
Mint Condition | Healing Season
Mint Condition Music, LLC
by Peggy Oliver
At one time or another, those artists who have logged in many studio hours will eventually find their way to record their perspective on what Christmas hymns or popular tunes should sound and feel like. I thoroughly appreciate when an artist refuses in leaning too far to the left or right for the sake of holiday cheer,…
Maysa | A Very Maysa Christmas
Shanachie
by Brent Faulkner
An adjective that best describes Baltimore singer/songwriter Maysa (Leak) is versatility. Incredibly gifted possessing nothing short of a beautiful, angelic-sounding instrument, Maysa is a magnificent musician. A mix of soul, jazz, and R&B, Maysa offers a “little bit of this and a little bit of that.” Classically trained sporting a classical performance degree from Morgan State University, Maysa is definitely the real-deal.
Tamar Braxton | Winter Loversland
Epic Records
by Darnell Meyers-Johnson
Is Tamar Braxton finally winning at this game of music? On the surface it would seem so. Nearly a year ago her single “Love And War” was released and by August 2013, it sold over one million copies. The September release of her album of the same name has already generated three official singles, as well as the recent release of the video for one of the project’s weaker tracks (but one of Tamar’s favorites) “Hot Sugar”.