Winter Loversland, Tamar Braxton (Epic)

Toni's little sister Tamar jumps into the Christmas fray for 2013 with this short but satisfying disc of modern R'nB takes on the holiday. There aren't a lot of surprises here, but I like the way this is produced. For starters, how'd she get away with NOT recording "This Christmas" or "My Favorite Things?" Maybe she heard Mary J Blige already called dibs on them, but then so has nearly every other R'nB singer of the past 20 years. Not that she's eschewed familiarity here; she does right by "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Santa Baby" and "Sleigh Ride," for starters. She does a nice a capella medley of "Away In a Manger," singing solo, and then into a group-sung "Little Drummer Boy." The same approach is used on "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late.)" The arrangement of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" is just different enough from so many other versions to warrant your attention. And I don't think I've heard a slow-jam version of the Carpenters' "Merry Christmas Darling," which is also worthy of wider hearing. There's a straight acoustic guitar-backed "Silent Night" that puts the focus on Tamar's voice. There are also two originals, "No Gift," and the non-holiday "She Can Have You." Like most female R'nB singers, she can't resist the melisma, but she manages not to go off the rails hamming things up. All told, I like this better than A Mary Christmas.