Looking for a smart, never-out-of-style singer who turns in a
perfectly solid collection of Christmas songs, including a few
surprises? J.T. is your man on
James Taylor at Christmas,
which is nicely balanced between pop and jazz selections, with more
stately hymn-like fare and balladry. Always fine in his charmingly
understated voice, Taylor and company try out the old gospel
standard "Go Tell It on the Mountain" and the memorable "Some
Children See Him." He smoothly cuts through "Winter Wonderland" and
"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" with a bit of jazz flavor, and
reprises Joni Mitchell's increasingly popular Christmas song (even
though it's about getting away from the holiday), "River." One of
the album's most satisfying delights is Taylor's funky version of
"Jingle Bells," sung in a kind of barroom stomp with the most
intriguing phrasing since Barbra Streisand sang it in the '60s.
Soulful and bright and moody as well (when Taylor sings "In the
Bleak Midwinter," you believe it's indeed rough), there's barely a
clinker here.
-- Martin Keller
James's Christmas
Album
More from James
Taylor
The Best of James Taylor |
Sweet Baby James |
James Taylor |
New Moon Shine |
JT |
James Taylor (Live) |
