A voice that is aging, but still so warm and comfortable

This is for Etta James' real fans, the ones who have listened to her through her career and still want to hear more from her, even realizing that she is past her prime. Her voice still has that warm quality and she still has the style that gives one the feeling that she is singing particularly for the individual listener.

Of course, this is of the jazz genre. But Etta is so respectful of both the secular and the serious Christmas music. Her opening number, "Christmas Wonderland", is very inviting, and features great work from bass, piano, guitar, and trumpet. This is one of Etta's charms, the way she gives plenty of space to the jazz musicians working with her.

"Merry Christmas, Baby" is given a properly bluesy interpretation and besides her wonderful interpretation of the song, features solos from Red Halloway on Tenor Saxophone and Cedar Walton on piano.

She gives lots of spirit to "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", helped again by Cedar Walton's piano and also George Bohanon's trombone. This is followed with a transition...possibly the two greatest sentimental secular Christmas songs, before she goes into the more serious "The Little Drummer Boy", and then the traditional carols.

Her "Silent Night" is indeed very moving and while there's a little improvisation in her performance and performances by Sametto James on Electric Bass and Red Halloway on Tenor Saxophone, there is respectful reverence here.

The greatest surprise to me, and the song that I needed to listen to several times in order to appreciate the unusual presentation, was her slow paced rendition of "Joy To The World". I like to think that she was expressing an idea to us, that the type of joy experienced during these holidays need not be the wild, loud, hilarious kind, but rather a very deep inner joy which expresses itself in a soulful way. Again, great accompaniment maintaining the quiet yet joyful mood from Cedar Walton's Piano and Red Holloway's tenor sax.

And then the effective closing cut is "O Holy Night". If you have any appreciation for jazz, I believe you will experience , while listening to this CD, how jazz can be used when in the hands of sincere artists to create a loving Christmas atmosphere.

Something Different for Christmas

This album is wonderful for those of you who are sick of Mannheim Steamroller, Bing Crosby, and the like. Etta James' unique voice makes this a CD for those who want something different to listen to during the holidays. This album is great to listen to because it has some wonderful, tight, playing by some seasoned jazz musicians, along with fresh arrangements of Christmas standards. The CD has been done quite tastefully, yet still has a nice edge to it.

Tradition with a tough and sassy edge.

Most of the songs on this album are the same old Christmas carols youÕve heard a million times, but I promise you have never heard them sound quite like this. Etta James has always been a tough, earthy belter with as much soul as Aretha Franklin or Otis Redding. And a brave singer too, willing to let her voice range off into all kinds of moans and groans and astonishing scatting. But as sheÕs gotten older (sheÕs in her sixties now Ñ although youÕd never guess it from the strength of her voice), sheÕs developed a depth and subtlety, a jazz singerÕs phrasing, that makes her unbeatable. Cross Billie Holiday with Janis Joplin and you end up somewhere in the neighborhood of the mature Etta James.

She brings all those gifts to this Christmas album. She sings every song as if it is coming from the depths of her soul. Her Silent Night brings tears to my eyes. Jingle Bells is one of the happiest and most playful versions IÕve ever heard. And she sings Santa Claus Is Coming To Town in such a sly, sexy way, youÕll never be able to hear the song the same way again ( What DID Santa Claus bring you, girl?).

And as if Etta James at her best were not enough, she brings along a perfect band, including Cedar Walton, who also accompanied her on Mystery Lady, her Billie Holiday tribute album. Christmas music doesnÕt get much better than this