Believe (CD - 2005)

Natalie Grant follows her Dove Award-nominated work on Awaken with a Christmas album called Believe. Her opening rendition of "O Come All Ye Faithful" harks back to Grant's days a gospel singer, while "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow" is lighter and happier (as would be appropriate for such a joyously repetitive song title), Grant's vocal dancing across a jazzy arrangement fluffed up with brass. Her take on "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" is similarly bold. But besides these pleasant reads of the season's standards, Grant and producer Bernie Herms also explore some original material and expansive arrangements. A breathy "Silver Bells" medleys into an epic "O Holy Night," while the collection's title track is a Grant original that uses the story of the birth of Jesus as a basis for her faith and inspiration. ~ Johnny Loftus

On her 2005 holiday album, BELIEVE, Christian singer Natalie Grant lends her powerful voice to an entertaining set of Yuletide classics. The arrangements here are pleasantly dynamic, ranging from a gospel-steeped version of "O Come All Ye Faithful" to a swinging, big-band take on "Let It Snow" to a string-laden rendition of "O Little Town of Bethlehem." A charmingly eclectic Christmas offering, BELIEVE is sure to please a wide range of listeners. minimize