So much about Black family gatherings includes music and the Christmas holidays are no exception, with a playlist to love.
Sure you have your holiday favorites, but try out some of this year’s new releases that include a mix of soul, R&B, Jazz and Gospel.
Can you believe this Jennifer Hudons’ first album in 10 years and her first holiday album ever. The same goes for legendary R&B band Tower of Power who self-released this their first ever holiday album.
So add some of these albums to your holiday albums for a fresh mix to your holiday music compilation.
1. Brandy
“Christmas with Brandy”
“Christmas with Brandy” is a soulful holiday album from R&B icon Brandy. The 2023 release offers a warm and modern take on the season’s classics. We can get down with this version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
2. Robert Glasper
“In December”
The genre-shifting keyboardist penned three originals for this eight-song set, with “Wicked’s” Cynthia Erivo, Tarriona “Tank” Ball, PJ Morton, Sevryn Streeter, Andra Day and others lending their voices and the Baylor Project bringing an abundance of rum pum pum pum to “Little Drummer Boy.”
3. Anthony Evans
“The Greatest Gift”
This soulful and uplifting Christmas album captures the true spirit of the season and blends gospel, pop, and contemporary worship to deliver fresh takes on beloved holiday classics alongside original songs.
4. Jennifer Hudson
“The Gift of Love”
Jennifer Hudson, “The Gift of Love” (Interscope): The EGOT singer and talk show host’s first full album in 10 years is also her first-ever holiday set, wrapping her diva-caliber voice around four originals and 10 covers — including Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” — plus collaborations with Common and the South African a cappella quintet The Joy.
5. Jonathan McReynolds
“Red and Green”
“Red and Green” by Jonathan McReynolds is a refreshing holiday album that beautifully blends gospel, soul, and acoustic vibes with the warmth of the Christmas season. You’ll want to add songs like “Don’t Take Christmas” to your playlist.
6. Ruben Studdard
“My Favorite Holiday”
The American Idol season two winner recently released his first Christmas EP. Studdard wrote the track “My Favorite Holiday,” which he said in an interview in October is inspired by how “Christmas has forever and will always be my favorite holiday.”
7. Soul of Santa Christmas Album
Compilation for Soul of Santa Foundation Kansas City
This is a late 2023 CD that deserves recognition for the quality of its mostly all-original songs, the artists and the albums overall production quality. The Soul of Santa Foundation led by Tucker Lott, who portrays the character Soul of Santa, coordinated this album as a fundraiser for the foundation. The album features some of Kansas City’s most talented performers from a number of genres. The mix works, thanks to the production by multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated producer Joseph Macklin. This CD is full of songs you’ll love all year long, not just at Christmas. Try it, we bet you’ll love it.
8. Tower of Power
“It’s Christmas”
Brassy, soulful and at times funky, it’s everything you want from Tower of Power — and for an album that takes the seasonal sound in another director. It’s definitely Christmas cookin’, with the group’s trademark East Bay Grease making things even tastier. The legendary R&B group’s first Christmas album features nine reimagined holiday classics and two original Christmas tracks.
9. CeCe Winans
“Joyful, Joyful: A Christmas Album”
CeCe Winans, “Joyful Joyful: A Christmas Album” (PureSprings Gospel): This year’s top gospel artist, According to Billboard, is definitely in the holiday lane; “Joyful…” follows her last album, another Christmas set, from 2018. She sings that “This World Will Never Be the Same,” and after listening to these 10 tracks, neither will your holiday.
A portion of this list came from Word in Black
