Search - Vanessa Williams :: Christmas Collection: 20th Century Masters

This Star Shines Bright

Darren | Jersey Shore, NJ USA | 09/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although I'm a collector of most of the older classic Christmas albums, this CD ranks high on my list of spiritual holiday music and is destined to become a treasured holiday classic in the years to come. It was originally released under the title "Star Bright"



Vanessa's interpretations of some classic spiritual Christmas songs such as "What Child is This", "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", "Do You Hear What I Hear/Little Drummer Boy", "Angels We have Heard on High" and the "First Noel" are soulfully jazzy. A very upbeat medley of "Go Tell it on the Mountain/Mary had a Baby" produced by David Foster adds a somewhat contemporary gospel sound which will give you chills and also remarkebly illustrates her extended vocal range. Her solemn rendition of "Gracious Good Shepherd" features her daughter in a vocal solo and allows the listener to really feel the reason for the season.



Every song beautifully captures true spirit of the Christmas season. This CD will warm your heart."

Arrangements range from smooth jazz to soundtrack style - Go

P. Masuda | Encino, CA | 11/11/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Vanessa's distinctive sound is that it is well cultivated,

a beautiful tone, perfect articulation, like a polished pearl.

However sometimes these arrangements seem a little artificial,

sometimes obviously Kenny G, or George Benson, (I'll Be Home

for Christmas) or like it was pulled from the soundtrack of

The Lion King (Do You Hear What I Hear. Sometimes her vocal

phrasing sounds too much like she is borrowing from Al Jarreau,

while the band sounds like studio musicians who have used the

same riffs over and over on other album projects.



I do like her rendition of "What Child Is This", "The First

Noel", and her tastefully jazzy "Angels We Have Heard On

High". These arrangements are fresh and interesting all the

way through.



Overall this is still a pleasant album, though I would like

to have heard Vanessa challenge herself more, on range and

interpretation."

GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN

T. Baker | baltimore, md | 09/05/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'M LOOKING FOR THE VERSION OF GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN THAT WAS PLAYED ON THE RADIO IT WAS SAID TO BE ON HER STAR BRIGHT CD BUT THAT IS A DIFFERENT VERSION CAN ANYONE HELP ME FIND THE RIGHT VERSION"