In her first solo Christmas project, CeCe Winans delivers a well-executed knockout with His Gift. It is lush and smooth. A string section, piano, and percussion can be heard subtly throughout much of the project, adding just the right countermelody or beat.
His Gift contains fairly straightforward renditions of five classic Christmas carols along with five new songs for the season. The album is decidedly Christ-centered; only "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" lacks a strong reference to Jesus.
I most appreciated the variations shown in the songs. Each song takes a few twists, from a gentle solo to a choral romp to an R&B groove and so on. Winans puts on a fine vocal performance with crispness and power.
This is an album I wouldn't suggest for a relaxing listen around the Christmas tree. It kept me tapping my feet and bobbing my head; I found it to be much better to groove to than relax to. I think that His Gift couldn't possibly go wrong for anyone who enjoys some R&B and black gospel music. It should also have a much wider appeal, particularly to most fans of pop and contemporary music. I mean, with a voice like Winans', how could you go wrong?
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