Toni Braxton - Snowflakes

Snowflakes is hardly a traditional christmas record. Of its nine proper songs (the two final songs are instrumental and remix variations of two cuts that came before), there are only two standards -- "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "The Christmas Song" -- unless you want to count Vince Guaraldi's "Christmas Time Is Here," familiar through Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown. The rest has been co-written by Braxton and a variety of collaborators, then polished by her, Keri Lewis, and Antonio "L.A." Reid. Not surprisingly, the end result is something that's very similar to a proper Toni Braxton record, only with an appropriately hushed tone and the sultriness replacing the overt sexiness. Some of the originals are pretty good -- particularly the two opening cuts, "Holiday Celebrate" and the Shaggy duet "Christmas in Jamaica" (it's always a good idea to front-load holiday records) -- and the rest that don't make much of an impact are nevertheless pleasant and add to the mood. And that pretty much summarizes the record -- it's not remarkable, but it's nice, providing a nice, romantic soundtrack for an evening of cuddling in front of the tree and a roaring fire. Which is all that you could ask for, really. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Schmitt Mixing Allen D. Hong Assistant, Project Coordinator Anatoly Rosinsky Violin Armen Ksadjikian Cello Arni Egilsson Contrabass, Double Bass Ashley Alexander Assistant Engineer, Engineer Assa Drori Violin, Engineer, Concert Master Babyface Vocals (Background), Producer Brad Gilderman Engineer Brandon Harris Assistant Engineer Brent Fischer Conductor, String Arrangements, Percussion Brenton Banks Violin Carlo Dalla Chiesa Photography Cecilia Tsan Cello Chanté Moore Vocals (Background) Clare Fischer String Arrangements, Orchestration Courtney Walter Art Direction, Design Craig "Niteman" Taylor Assistant Engineer Craig Love Guitar, Producer Dan Smith Cello Daniel Smith Cello Darren Godwin Engineer, Assistant Engineer Daryl Simmons Producer, Keyboards, Arranger, Percussion Dave Palmer Engineer, Mixing Dave Reitzas String Engineer Don Palmer Violin Don Sebesky Arranger, Conductor Donnie Scantz Producer, Instrumentation, Vocal Engineer Elizabeth Wilson Violin Farrah Fima Assistant Engineer Fran Cooper Make-Up Gordon Dukes Vocal Engineer, Engineer Heather Michell Vocals (Background) Henry Ferber Violin Henry Gronnier Violin Herb Powers Mastering Igor Kiskatchi Violin Irma Neumann Violin Ivy Skoff Production Coordination Jason Goldstein Mixing Jason Shablik Engineer, Assistant Engineer Jean Sudbury Violin Jeremy Lubbock String Arrangements, String Conductor, Conductor Jerry Epstein Viola Jim "Z" Zumpano Engineer Jim Fox Guitar Jim Hughart Bass Jorge Moraga Viola Kayo Bass Kazi Pitelka Viola Keri Lewis Mixing, Producer, Instrumentation, Executive Producer Kevin "KD" Davis Mixing L'Wren Scott Stylist L.A. Reid Drums, Executive Producer, Producer Larry Mah String Engineer, Engineer Lisa Sutton Violin Lynn Grants Viola Marie Davis Hair Stylist Mario Diaz de Leon Violin McArthur Drums, Producer Michael Thompson Guitar (Electric) Nathan East Bass Neal Starkey Bass Oscar Hidalgo Double Bass, Contrabass Peter Donald Drums Poke & Tone Remixing, Producer Precision Producer Randy Poole Assistant Engineer, Engineer Ray Bardani Mixing Rebecca Bunnell Violin Rob Skipworth Assistant Engineer Robbes Stieglitz Assistant Engineer Robert Berg Viola Robert Sanov Violin Sally Berman Violin Scott Meeder Drums, Drum Overdubs Shaggy Vocals, Producer Shari Zippert Violin Sonny Lallerstedt Guitar (Classical), Guitar Steve Genewick Assistant Engineer Tamar Braxton Vocals (Background) Thom "TK" Kidd Engineer Thomas Dienner Viola Tom Rainer Celeste, Piano Tom Ranier Celeste, Piano Toni Braxton Arranger, Executive Producer, Vocals, Vocals (Background), Producer, Vocal Arrangement Tony Williams Drum Programming Vance Taylor Piano