This Time of the Year
This Time of Yearserves up R&B; and jazzy Christmas music from a singer whose style lies between the sophisticated elegance ofTony Bennettand the soulful grit ofDr. John. Tyrell clearly has a ball covering "The Christmas Song" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," the latter featuring the great jazz trumpeterClark Terry. Though Tyrell has a versatile backing band, the arrangements on these seasoned classics are on the safe side. But he really nails the sentiment of the holiday on the soulful title track. Here, Tyrell showcases his vocal prowess, using color and nuance to underscore the season's good cheer. A little more adventurousness would have lifted the CD above a solid stocking stuffer.--Martin Keller