Xmas With Shirley Caesar

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Known as the "First Lady of gospel," Pastor Shirley Caesar wraps some seasonal favorites in the cloak of her well enunciated and energetic delivery. And while Caesar's Christmas collection inspired the 1999 Dove Awards to vote her the Traditional Gospel Artist of the Year, this collection is really an eclectic blend of synthetic contemporary-Christian gospel-funk wherein overwrought arrangements occasionally detract from Caesar's fiery power. The standout here is an especially moving rendition of "Ave Maria," swaddled in an elegant swathe of strings juxtaposed with Pastor Caesar's Latin, each syllable bitten clear through with purpose and immediacy. --Paige La Grone --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Entertainment Weekly
The reigning queen of gospel weighs in with nontraditional pop-funk arrangements of Xmas chestnuts. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Xmas With Shirley Caesar

Tracks:

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
The Gift
Little Drummer Boy
Ave Maria
Do You Hear What I Hear
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
What Are You Gonna Name Your Baby?
What Child Is This?
Giving & Sharing
We Three Kings Of Orient Are
O Christmas Tree

Amazon.com

Known as the "First Lady of gospel," Pastor Shirley Caesar wraps some seasonal favorites in the cloak of her well enunciated and energetic delivery. And while Caesar's Christmas collection inspired the 1999 Dove Awards to vote her the Traditional Gospel Artist of the Year, this collection is really an eclectic blend of synthetic contemporary-Christian gospel-funk wherein overwrought arrangements occasionally detract from Caesar's fiery power. The standout here is an especially moving rendition of "Ave Maria," swaddled in an elegant swathe of strings juxtaposed with Pastor Caesar's Latin, each syllable bitten clear through with purpose and immediacy. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews:

THE GREATEST CHRISTMAS ALBUM.......2001-11-06

I TRULY LOVE THIS ALBUM . IT IS A INSPIRATION . THIS IS THE ONLY CHRISTMAS ALBUM I CAN LISTEN TO YEAR ROUND . I DISAGREE W/ THE OTHER REVIEW ABOUT SHIRLEY'S RENDITION OF "AVE MARIA" , IT WAS BREATHE TAKING . THIS IS THE FIRST CHRISTMAS ALBUM I HEARD WITH SO MUCH SOUL IN IT EXCEPT 4 PATTI LABELLE'S CHRISTMAS ALBUM . SHILEY CAN DO HYMNS , SHE CAN DO CHRISTMAS , SHE CAN DO CONTEMO. GOSPEL . MAYBE WE WILL HEAR A REUNION OF THE CARAVANS SOON . GOD JUST CONTINUES 2 DO NEW THINGS IN HER LIFE . I JUST PRAY THAT SHE STAYS HUMBLE . MAY GOD CONTINUE 2 BLESS HER .

Christmas with Shirley Caesar.......2000-06-15

I truly enjoyed Shirley's Christmas tape,particularly Hark the Herald. However, I feel that she should have left Ave Maria alone. She does not possess the voice or the phrasing for such a traditionally sacred piece. Leave that kind of originality to Aretha! Nonetheless,Shirley is still my girl!

THE GIFT.......1999-12-04

Pastor Shirley has the gift of communicating the message through song. The cut "The Gift" is a good example of hearing here emotions in her music. She believes in what she is singing about. Could be a Grammy winner this year!

Music:

Music

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