Shadow Mountain released this holiday compilation in time for the 2003 holiday season. The artists include Cherie Call, Jericho Road, Katherine Nelson, Brett Raymond, Hilary Weeks and introduces the new all-female quartet Providence. All 11 tracks are contemporary in style.

It opens with original song "Peace in Every Heart," an anthem penned by Tyler Castleton and Staci Peters. Credited simply to "Shadow Mountain Artists," it's the album's equivalent of a big production number. The lyrics are inspirational, and the Madrigal Choir accents are cool on the musical side. It may be a sleeper hit.

Jericho Road follows with an updated "Little Drummer Boy" that is jazzed up too much. It has their trademark harmonies, but I feel the uptempo pace ruins the message of the song.

Track 3 introduces Providence with original "Gifts of the Heart." This is weak song for a big introduction to a new group. There are barely any harmonious parts and it's obvious the singers are struggling with the new song. The lyrics are promising but the music doesn't seem to fit.

Katherine Nelson is new to the Shadow Mountain label. She debuted with an album earlier in the year. She sings Doug Walker's original "Christmas Prayer." This is a beautiful song and Nelson gives it a good heartfelt performance. A ballad, it offers a prayer that not only will Christ be found, but "May peace fill the hearts of nations/Father hear my Christmas prayer."

Singer-songwriter Cherie Call performs "The First Noel" in a relatively straight rendition. Her voice is slightly smoky over a slow jazz piano accompaniment.

Brett Raymond's 1996 recording of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" is next. This is a very pop/rock interpretation, done in his trademark style.

Katherine Nelson comes back for a second helping, this time with "I'll Be Home for Christmas." She sings with the right amount of angst and Michael Dowdle can be heard strumming his guitar in the slightly jazzy arrangement.

Jericho Road's "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is a wonderful arrangement of the traditional that really highlights their tight harmonies. This has hit written all over it.

Cherie Call performs her own "Gifts," a song about gifts from the heart with a nod to the Atonement. Good inspirational number. One of the things I like about Call is her ability to take untraditional lyrics and turn them into lovely songs and this is no exception.

Providence makes a much stronger showing with a nicely harmonized version of "Silent Night." If they stick to more of this type of harmonization, they will score a few entries on the hit list like label-mates Jericho Road.

The album ends with a definite hit, Hilary Weeks' original "Christmastime" from her outstanding 2003 holiday album of the same title. Everything about this song speaks that it will become a cherished chestnut, sung in the company of "The Christmas Song" and traditionals alike. The melody is simple, and Tyler Castleton and Kenny Hodges' handprints are all over the arrangement and production in the song's debut. This is just a great song lyrically and musically.

This album has created a lot of buzz in the industry, as it introduces Providence. There were a lot of comments about "chick bands" in one musician's circle in particular. They aren't exactly off to a running start, but there is some potential evident. I wouldn't buy the album just for them, that's for sure. However, there's enough to please from the others.

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Dacia A. Blodgett-Williams

1. Peace in Every Heart by the Shadow Mountain artists
2. Little Drummer Boy by Jericho Road
3. Gifts of the Heart by Providence
4. Christmas Prayer by Katherine Nelson
5. The First Noel by Cherie Call
6. We Wish You a Merry Christmas by Brett Raymond
7. I'll be Home for Christmas by Katherine Nelson
8. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel by Jericho Road
9. Gifts by Cherie Call
10. Silent Night by Providence
11. Christmastime by Hilary Weeks