Search - Sounds of Blackness :: Night Before Christmas: Musical Fantasy

A Non-Traditional Christmas CD Which Has Become a Tradition

ileta A. Sumner | San Antonio, TX USA | 11/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have a lot of Christmas music -- everything from Bing Crosby to the Temptations, but this CD is my absolute favorite. The first nine songs (or side one of the audio cassette) are the "traditional" ones. I had to put that in quotes for although it contains, "O Holy Night," "Away in a Manger," and "O Come All Ye Faithful," you have never heard such funky, soulful, raise-your-hands-&-shout-"Hallelujah!" arrangements. These first nine songs, which include songs you most likely have never heard before, are more spiritual in nature. They are moving, melodic, but powerful all at the same time. The harmonies on "Peace on Earth for Everyone," are simply breathtaking. The second half of the CD is more secular. These songs focus more on Santa than the birth of Christ, with the songs being prefaced by snippets of "The Night Before Christmas" (hence the title of the CD). I had never heard any of these songs before but I can belt them all verbatim now (in the privacy of my shower, of course!). My favorite is "The Jolly One is Here" which has what sounds like the entire choral group singing the praise of Santa's arrival. Once again, as with the first group of songs, these arrangements will absolutely move you and have you clapping your hands with the rhythm (which can make listening to the CD while driving a hazard!).It is impossible to listen to this CD and not bop your head, if not your whole body. All in all, this group, the Sounds of Blackness, sings with such joy that you undoubtedly will find yourself enveloped in the spirit of the holiday -- and tempted to listen to this music year-round."