Reviewed by Peter Timmis

It's been five years since American gospel singer Patrice released her last album 'Sacrifice' and she has taken the unusual step of making her comeback with a Christmas project. 'A Christmas Blessing' features renditions of festive favourites like "White Christmas", "Jingle Bells" and "O Come All Ye Faithful" alongside three original compositions written by the album's producer Claude L Harris Jr. It's the original material that works best, especially the lively single "Everyday Is Christmas", as the well-worn standards suffer from over familiarity. Patrice's voice is simply sublime - silky smooth yet expressive and powerful - but cheap sounding production and an uninspired choice of material spoil what could have been a real Christmas treat.

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