Ledisi, 'It's Christmas'

The buzz: Born in New Orleans, Ledisi Young has fond memories of the holiday season. She received the wonderful surprise of being nominated for two Grammys this past year, for Best R&B Album and Best New Artist (even though she’s been recording independently since 2000), and follows up that honor with an album project of both covers and original material inspired by Christmas.

The verdict: A passionate, high-energy effort that is a stark contrast to the glut of clichéd holiday releases, “It's Christmas” makes it possible to listen to “Silent Night” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” with un-jaded ears. Her take on Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” breathes fresh life into an old standard by only flirting briefly with the original arrangement in favor of a new style. But it’s not as exciting as her own “Thank You,” which closes out the set on the strongest note of all.

Did you know? Ledisi used to teach voice at University of California at Berkeley, near her Oakland home.

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