Christmas

Jaci Velasquez

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 18, 2001)
• Original Release Date: September 18, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Word Entertainment
• ASIN: B00005OAK5
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #108,086 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
It should come as no surprise that Jaci Velasquez opted for a more traditional, classic approach to this holiday seasonal release. After all, she exudes the strength and emotion in her vocals that are reminiscent of some of the Big Band era's greatest female singers. Interestingly enough, the orchestra backing on Christmas was recorded live in Ireland, giving Velasquez the framework she needs to build her melodic magic. Whether it's the dreamy "I'll Be Home for Christmas" or the warm and comfy "The Christmas Song," Velasquez is gifted with a certain timeless quality when she sings. There's also a cool and atmospheric rendering of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." Velasquez also features three new compositions here, including the beautiful "The Angel Song." You'll want to have this CD in your player when the holidays come calling. --Michael Lyttle

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely one of the best Christmas CDs out this year!, November 18, 2001

By	Soozie4Him (Chicago suburbs) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

We traditionally wait til after Thanksgiving to play Christmas music, but I couldn't resist opening this one today as our family was taking a 2-hour road trip. We listened to the whole thing a couple of times and we loved it! I have high expectations for Jaci's music and this one exceeded my expectations.

Jaci shows herself to be a TRULY versatile artist in the many different styles of music on this album. The opening track O Come O Come Emmanuel is beautiful and haunting. Angel Song is written by Chris Eaton and a high point on the album. What Jaci has done with the traditional carols is wonderful; I agree with some of the other reviewers who think that sometimes artists go too far afield in trying to make the traditional carols "original". Jaci's treatment of these all-time favorites maintains the familiar beauty, while adding her stunning vocals and lush orchestration and choir back-up where appropriate.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Let It Snow, and I'll Be Home for Christmas have a Big Band sound and her voice changes to reflect the style. Smooth jazz - so relaxing! And sometimes she sounds to me somewhat like Natalie Cole (hey, I told you she's versatile!).

I was so thrilled to hear her rendition of Feliz Navidad - a Christmas CD by Jaci wouldn't be complete without that! You'll be up on your feet and dancing around to this one!!

If you're fortunate enough to get her limited edition with the bonus track (available here on Amazon), you'll here Jaci's duet with Alvin and the Chipmunks. What a hoot! You'll hear the Chipmunks trying to speak Spanish as well as the usual song you've come to know and love from Alvin and his chipmunk gang! Some younger music-lovers might not know this traditional song that us 40-somethings grew up with. This is a great way to introduce them to it!

Overall, this is SUCH a great CD - poignant offerings which will get you teary-eyed, traditional favorites made even better, Jaci's crooning voice on some of those Big Band numbers, Feliz Navidad, and the Chipmunk Song - what more could you ask!

This is a perfect early-Christmas gift for music-lovers of all ages!

By the way, Jaci has two Spanish albums out - they're incredible! If you know someone who speaks Spanish (or a teenager who is taking Spanish in high school), this would be the perfect gift!

Please check out my other reviews of Christian music!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful, Timeless Recording, October 11, 2001

By	Michael Janke "www.xanga.com/mikeknaj" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Jaci Velasquez just recorded the album of her career. I'm a Velasquez fan, though I will admit to being slightly disappointed with her previous project, CRYSTAL CLEAR. So I picked up CHRISTMAS with slight trepidation, unsure of what to expect. What I found was a holiday masterpiece that is absolutely shimmering with traditional beauty, yet still Jaci.

CHRISTMAS pays homage to all of the great, traditional Christmas albums of the past (like the classic from The Carpenters), with it's fully orchestrated arrangements, tender vocals, and traditional song selections. This is an album that you can play in the background of any classic Christmas movie and it would feel like a natural fit. Some Christmas albums, reaching for originality, go too far in personalizing familiar carols. While I'm all for creativity, when it comes to Christmas songs there's just something about keeping it familiar. And CHRISTMAS does just that, in spades.

The haunting "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" opens the project appropriately. "The First Noel" and "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" probably best personify the album's nod to traditional beauty. "Let It Snow" features more of a big band sound. The weakest moment is really the original track, "Season Of Love," which is a duet with new artist Pete Orta. It's a nice song, but feels out of place in the midst of the grandeur that the rest of the album wallows in.

This is the perfect album to put on while you're trimming the Christmas tree, relaxing in front of the fire, or spending time with loved ones. There are a few slightly upbeat moments, but for the most part it's simply a delicious mix of Jaci singing the classics. And, in this case, it doesn't get much better than that. Fans of Velasquez will eat this up with a spoon, but even if you've never heard of her before you'll want to give this a try if traditional Christmas music is what you love. Every few years a truly great Christmas album is released. CHRISTMAS is one of those instant classics, and I look foreword to listening to it every winter for years to come. FIVE STARS.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Echoes of the 1940's, November 17, 2003

By	Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Jaci's voice has a whispery quality about it that makes her an ideal singer of ballads and these dominate this warm, mellow Christmas album. The tempo pucks up occasionally, as on the classic Let it snow and Jose Feliciano's Feliz Navidad, but if you want a Christmas album with plenty of up-tempo songs on it, look elsewhere. Although this is a modern album, it harks back to an earlier age - the 1940's - in style.

On classics like O come O come Emmanuel, First Noel, White Christmas, I'll be home for Christmas. Have yourself a Merry little Christmas, The Christmas song and O little town of Bethlehem, Jaci is in her element.

There are three new songs, all excellent ballads, but my favorite is The angel song. The others are It wouldn't be Christmas and a duet with Pete Orta, Season of love.

The album is completed by a bonus track, The Chipmunk song, which is a duet with Alvin and the Chipmunks. Not everybody will regard this as a bonus but if you don't like it you can always stop the CD or tape after all the other songs have been played.

Jaci is a classy singer who knows what she does best as this wonderful album demonstrates.