Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Nostalgia sells and it was a smart marketing move for EMI Gospel to change its name to Motown Gospel in 2009, recognising that nostalgic affection for the Motown name could only aid brand recognition. Not that there's any particular musical connection between the modern gospel artists presented here and the Supremes, Jackson 5, Temptations et al who took the Motown brand around the world in the '60s and '70s. But the Motown name no doubt drew in a few more purchasers of this album in a market place awash with a bewildering variety of Christmas albums. 'A Motown Gospel Christmas' offers more than simply getting a label's roster to turn in predictable renditions of carols and Christmas songs. Mind you, there's a few of those. Kerry Lattimore runs through "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", with a long improvised coda at the close which will be unrecognisable to traditionalists, while newcomers Jerard and Jovain sing "We Three Kings" with more grace notes than you'd think could possibly be crammed into the John Henry Hopkins Jr original. Tasha Cobbs Leonard belts out a no-holds-barred (does she perform any other way?) version of "O Holy Night"; and pianist Max Stark offers a jazzy carol medley "Piano Carol". Of the original songs, Mandisa sings a lushly arranged and rather lovely "Beautiful Son", and Brian Courtney Wilson is soulfully effective on "Give Me A Star". I have to say, I was underwhelmed by Lexi's opener "Give Love On Christmas Day", but then the "classic Jackson 5 rendition" referred to in the press release is publicist speak. On the whole, 'A Motown Gospel Christmas' is a pretty good, musically varied, album for car and home play. We missed it for this year's holiday, maybe you'll want to check it out for the next.

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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