Reviewed by Tony Cummings

The publicity blurb for this yuletide project says it all really. "Crystal releases 'Holiday'...in a style reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra." One may question how even a vocalist as profoundly versatile as Crystal Lewis is going to sound like ol' blue eyes himself but the blurb does convey that we're not going to get Crystal in her blue eyed soul diva role (her last set 'Fearless' was more of a R&B set than anything else). Instead, we get her accompanied by "one of jazz music's most famous trios", The Peter Erskine Trio, and a set of songs you don't need to have a word of knowledge to list..."Silent Night"..."Oh Come All Ye Faithful"..."Joy To The...(oh stop it!). Look, Crystal is one of the best CCM talents in the whole CCM firmament...she can sing finger snapping jazz with the best of them. But to hear her doing glutinous versions of cretinous Christmas ditties like "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" or "Winter Wonderland" does not set me up for the holidays, merely makes me wonder aloud once more why every Christmas some serious Nashville talents undergo a taste bypass.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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