Bill & Gloria Gaither & Their Homecoming Friends - Homecoming Christmas From South Africa

Reviewed by John Hebden

This is 90 minutes of big band versions of mainly Christmas hymns and songs sung by the Gaithers and their friends. All are performed with great feeling by a very smartly dressed gang of all smiling, (predominantly) white, top notch gospel singers and musicians. There's a huge variety of material and musical styles, although it does tend towards the middle aged world of hymns. However, there is a lovely section in the middle where the rhythms and grooves get a bit deeper. This closes with a wonderful, impassioned, unaccompanied version of "Blessed Assurance" by The Isaacs. The guests are numerous and include dc Talker Michael Tait ("for the younger ones") and gospel veteran Jessy Dixon. They all seem to blend very easily into the well rehearsed performance. The music is interspersed with little sermonettes and footage of Christmas boxes being distributed to the young, black residents of an orphanage. The musical flow suffers from these preachy interruptions. However, the easy camera work makes the musical sections easy to watch and the live performance will appeal to anyone who enjoys the Gaithers' take on swinging Southern gospel and smartly tailored suits.