CCM powerhouse vocalist, Jody McBrayer, is delivering an early Christmas present to music lovers around the world with the release of his first holiday album, CHRISTMASTIME, Oct. 21. The record was produced by StowTown Records Wayne Haun and delivers a variety of 11 Christmas tunes that showcase McBrayer's tenor vocals against a backdrop of jazz infused music, while delivering lyrics of hope that the Christmas story will become real for everyone.
"Christmas time is my favorite time of the year, and this project by Jody McBrayer resembles everything about Christmas! It creates the perfect setting and an emotional message," says Landon Beene, President, IMC/StowTown Records. "It is an honor to represent such an amazing talent like Jody. There are singers, and then there is Jody McBrayer. He sets a standard of his own!"
CHRISTMASTIME is an album that McBrayer wanted to record for a long time, and he wanted it to have a timeless sound that could connect with a variety of people. And that wish starts with the new single from the project, "Imagine This Christmas." The song empowers our hope for a better world; Imagine this Christmas a world without hurting, a world without hunger, a world without fear/ Imagine this Christmas we all gave each other love and respect and good cheer/Well maybe this year. McBrayer and Haun also added traditional favorites, "What Child Is This?" and "Ave Maria/O Holy Night," while featuring George Michael's "Last Christmas" and the 16th century French carol, "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella," with Vince Guaraldi's Thanksgiving theme. Another special moment on the album is "Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep/Silent Night," where McBrayer's daughter, Sarah Clayton-McBrayer, joins him on the vocals.
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Imagine This Christmas
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Candlelight Carol
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O Come All Ye Faithful
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Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep/Silent Night (feat. Sarah Clayton-McBrayer)
A Cozy Christmastime| Posted November 05, 2016
It's been quite a year for Jody McBrayer. Between releasing his new solo project Keep Breathing in February and debuting, recording and touring with southern gospel trio Cana's Voice, you would think McBrayer had triumphantly checked off all his goals for 2016. Lucky for us, he was also working on Christmastime, which released October 21.
McBrayer starts by inviting his audience to imagine a picture perfect world on "Imagine This Christmas:" "Imagine this Christmas a world without hurting, a world without hunger, a world without fear / Imagine this Christmas we all gave each other love and respect and good cheer / Well maybe this year."
Listeners will enjoy jazz undertones in several songs ("O Come All Ye Faithful," "Christmastime Is Here"), hear traditional and popular old favorites ("What Child is This," George Michael's "This Christmas") and experience rich culture (16th century French Carol "Bring A Torch, Janette, Isabella" and the reverent "Ave Maria/O Holy Night"). Following up their haunting ballad collaboration on "If Someone Like You" from earlier this year, a cappella group Voctave joins McBrayer a second time this year by providing the arrangement for "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
Perhaps the most special track is "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep/Silent Night." McBrayer's daughter Sarah-Clayton lends her innocent voice to start Irving Berlin's classic, then McBrayer sweetly and gently brings it to its fruition and tags it with "Silent Night."
The Bottom Line: If you want a soundtrack while you get a blanket, sit on the couch and drink hot cocoa, this is the perfect album. Jody McBrayer is a true gift. Sometimes the only response is just to give thanks--and to go buy the album.
Song to Download Now:
"Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep/Silent Night" (Get it on iTunes here.)
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