Just by glancing at the posed photos on the album cover and liner notes, it’s easy to see that John Legend is becoming the Nat “King” Cole of his generation. He’s able to glide between worlds of musical cognoscenti as well as middle class suburbia, a tightrope few have successfully walked. This Christmas album is a perfect example of Legend’s ability to make a holiday album that transcends genres and generations.
He’s able to mix upbeat vintage Motown moods as on “What Christmas Means to Me” with Stevie Wonder sitting in on harmonica, while a Supremish “Bring My Love” has a rich Funk Brothers groove. He’s cozy by the fireplace as he roasts chestnuts with Esperanza Spalding on “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” while he drools like a smoky lounge lizard on a bluesy “Merry Christmas Baby/Give Love on Christmas Day” and gets down and lonesome on Charles Brown’s “Pleas Come Home For Christmas.” There’s plenty of mistletoe flying around on the fun and festive “Merry Merry Christmas,” but the highlight has to be a gospel laden take of “By Christmas Eve” with Legend teamed with a Sunday Morning vocal team. This is an album that you wish you could play all year round.
He’s touring around to promote this album, hitting LA the 23rd of December. Put this in your stocking!