A Royal Christmas [PA] (CD - 2008)

Personnel: Paris Bennett (vocals, background vocals); Spiffy Neuman (guitar); Nate Sabin (acoustic guitar); Kenny Holmen (saxophone); Darnel Davis (keyboards, drum programming); Sanford Moore, Billy Steele (keyboards); Chris Smith (bass instrument); Jeff Bailey (upright bass); Brandon Commodore (drum); Larry Robinson (drum programming); Jamecia Bennett (background vocals).

A Royal Christmas is all over the place, about as scattered as a single-artist Christmas album can get. Classics receive R&B arrangements that are alternately modernized ("Li'l Drummer Boy," "Deck the Halls") and kept to low-key contemporary tastefulness ("God Rest Ye Merry," "Silent Night"), while one ("12 Days of Christmas") receives an acoustic jazz backdrop -- which would've been a sensible frame for the whole set, as well as the best way to showcase Paris Bennett's voice. The album's most pleasant surprise is a stepper's delight, "Holiday Shuffle," an original written by Bennett's mother, Jamecia (who contributes production work, background vocals, and arrangements throughout). ~ Andy Kellman minimize