Search - Jeffrey Osborne :: Something Warm for Christmas

Jeffrey Osborne is often compared to R&B contemporaries Luther Vandross and James Ingram. But Something Warm for Christmas shows how much he has in common with the great Johnny Mathis, who has recorded a few Christmas albums of his own through the years. With George Duke producing and playing keyboards on half the tracks, there's more of a smooth-jazz tint here than Mathis ever used. And Osborne brings more seasonal obscurities to this recording, including an original he cowrote titled "Just a Little Snow." With its kiddie chorus and lament about spending the holidays in a sunny locale, the latter may not match "White Christmas" as a musical statement, but it's not bad, either. Nevertheless, Osborne is best when sticking to traditional tunes, be it a soothing take on "The Christmas Song" or a glorious "Angels We Have Heard on High." --Bill Holdship