BeBe Winans - My Christmas Prayer

By Peggy Oliver

The Movement Group/Hidden Beach Celebration Series

When BeBe Winans first gained considerable notice, he teamed with sister CeCe, as both the R&B and Gospel charts lit up with many delights like “Heaven”, “Lost Without You”, and the Staples Singers anthem, “I’ll Take You There.” Since then, life has gone in many blessed directions, including musical venture, The Movement Group. BeBe introduced his solo Christmas effort for TMG, “My Christmas Prayer”, which still gets attention since its release in 2003, mostly concentrating on Christmas hymns standing the test of time. The multi-awarded and respected singer/songwriter/arranger comes from one of Gospel’s famous families, and like CeCe and The Winans, has established moving performances such as “In Harm’s Way” and “When You Pray”. Many remember BeBe’s solid recording career, but might be unaware of his theater background, including “Don’t Get God Started”, and starting 2008 with an appearance in the musical adaptation of “The Color Purple”. He just finished tenure as a judge alongside Mary Mary on BET’s, “Sunday Best”.

BeBe decides to primarily maintain the spirit behind the music, beginning with “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, accompanied by The Nashville String Machine.

Rob Thomas from Matchbox 20 turns in a surprisingly soulful duet role on the title track about comfort and survival: “That you triumph and conquer and possess the strength you need to bear.” The same track returns later as Delores ‘Mom’ Winans replaces Thomas.

With a pleasing arrangement by BeBe and Marvin Winans, “O Come All Ye Faithful” initiates a sweet jazz/R&B aroma, flowing into Gospel’s heart, decorated with some adlib praises.

Co-producer Tom Hemby’s floating adaptation of “What Child Is This” blends subtle acoustic guitar drops and light percussive brushes with BeBe’s gentle, smoky baritone.

Big band jazz and Christmas standards sometimes add a jubilant spring in the step. The Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve Jazz Ensemble provides the backdrop, but on a BeBe original, “Yes It’s Christmas”, about “loving the atmosphere” and “favorite songs to sing.”