Reviewed by Sue Rann

This collection of Christmas tunes is touted as having a "warm, honest feel that perfectly evokes the joy and sparkle of Christmas." Well, it's smoothly produced, as you'd expect given the pedigree of the people involved. The jazz arrangements are consistently pleasant and undemanding, but "O Come All Ye Faithful" is the first among the playlist that doesn't sit well with the harmonies and syncopated rhythms of jazz style. I love jazz, but found this an uncomfortable blend; not completely successful: too reminiscent, despite high production values, of the schmoozy syncopated jingles that assault the ears in a million shops every year from mid-November onwards. Pass.

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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