Dream In Soul – Creativity for the Kingdom:

We all love the sounds of Christmas that get us into the spirit and remind us of the true gift of the season. Here are some great holiday albums to add to your collection:

Love, Peace, Joy at Christmas – Trin-i-tee 5:7

Trin-i-tee 5:7 presents their first Christmas album featuring soulful versions of your favorite Christmas songs, from “White Christmas” which has a jazzy atmosphere, and “Joy to the World” which fills the air with an enchanting feeling. You’ll definitely get into the Christmas spirit with the beautiful arrangements of “Give Love on Christmas Day,” “Mary Did You Know,” and songs from the live recording of the Gospel Music Channel’s “Christmas at Union Station,” including “O Holy Night” and “Silent Night.” The accompanying bonus DVD features the live performances of “Winter Wonderland”, “O Holy Night”, “Silent Night”, “This Christmas”, and “Christmas Song”. Click here to order the album from Amazon.

Watch the lovely live performances of the “Christmas Song,” “This Christmas,” and “Silent Night” below:

Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship – Chris Tomlin

In his premiere Christmas album Chris Tomlin shares the joyous sounds celebrating our Savior’s birth in his passionate worship style, inviting a community of worship leaders and artists to grace the special live recording as well. The album features Christmas classics including “Angels We Have Heard On High,” “O Holy Night,” “Joy to the World”, to which he wrote a new refrain, along with beautiful renditions of “Emmanuel” and “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus,” which features Christy Nockels. Tomlin says he desires people to experience these familiar carols as songs of worship. Click here to order the album from Amazon.

Watch Chris Tomlin below talking about the process of creating the album:

A Timeless Christmas – Israel Houghton and New Breed

A Timeless Christmas is truly a wonderfully unique Christmas album, weaving creative arrangements of traditional songs along with original melodies in the style that can only be Israel and New Breed. The album features numbers such as the “O Come,” “Put A Little Love In Your Heart,” “By Christmas Day” featuring Marvin Winans, “Silent Nocturne” featuring Lalah Hathaway and Gerald Albright and the “Christmas Worship Medley,” which blends a number of worshipful favorites like “Alpha and Omega” and “O Come Let Us Adore Him.” The second to last song is a beautifully soulful rendition of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” featuring Marvin Winans, CeCe Winans, Matthew Ward, Lalah Hathaway, Daniel Johnson & Gerald Albright. Israel Houghton and New Breed make the songs their own, with vibrant rhythms and musical styling, making the album itself timeless and ready to be enjoyed throughout the year. Click here to order the album from Amazon, and listen to clips from the album below:
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Here are some of Dream in Soul’s favorite Christmas songs from throughout the years. You can listen to clips from the songs in the widget, and see the selections and album info below. What are some of your favorites?

Notable Quotable:
“Now as we give gifts to loved ones,
It should remind us of God’s gift to us
Jesus the King sent from the Father above…

So on every Christmas day
Remember the reason why we celebrate
Lift up your voice, make a joyful noise
Give thanks for we have been redeemed…”

– Fred Hammond, From the song “Just Remember” from Fred Hammond Christmas: Just Remember

The Songs

* Christmas Makes Me Cry – Mandisa featuring Matthew West
From the album It’s Christmas (Click for more info)

* Christmas Invitation – David & Nicole Binion
From the album When Heaven Kisses Earth (Click for more info)

* Just Remember – Fred Hammond
From the album Fred Hammond Christmas: Just Remember (Click for more info)

* Christmastime – Michael W. Smith
From the album The Ultimate Christmas Collection (Click for more info)

* Now Behold The Lamb – Kirk Franklin & The Family
From the album Kirk Franklin and the Family Christmas (Click for more info)

* O Come, All Ye Faithful – Stacie Orrico
From the album Christmas Wish (Click for more info)

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With the Christmas season upon us, homes, earbuds, and car stereos are filling with tunes, old and new, that remind us of the reason – God’s Son. “Immanuel” is a tender and encouraging anthem from Anthony Evans, and is a great addition to the Christmas rotation. The song is the single from his premiere Christmas album What Christmas Means, and the music video which was recently released is a warm visual accompaniment. Anthony’s soulful vocals and the storylines weaved within the video remind us that God’s comfort, and peace that surpasses all understanding, is present amid our trials and pain.

The album also has a mix of classic holiday favorites, like “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Little Drummer Boy” and “This Christmas.” Visit www.anthony-evans.com to order, for tour dates, and to preview music from Anthony’s upcoming album Undisguised, to be released in January 2010.

Still the new album from BeBe and CeCe Winans is finally available on October 6. Their first album together in fifteen years, Still features 12 uplifting songs that merge the duo’s classic sounds with contemporary flair.

A resounding favorite is the single “Close To You,” a heartfelt ballad that could reflect both an earthly love and that of a relationship with God. CeCe
speaks on the double meaning of the song saying:

“Bebe is a romantic writer and people don’t equate that with gospel music. When you have an intimate relationship with the Father it’s sweet, it’s pure. It’s the ultimate love relationship. Love asks how can I serve you and how can I bless you while stating how much I need you. The safest place for me is being close to Him and even in the natural, it’s a safe place being with my brother.”

The album merges a diversity of musical styling throughout, from songs that remind you of R&B oldies to those with more modern vibes. “Things” featuring Pastor Marvin Winans is an upbeat and uplifting track, declaring that there’s “such a fuss about things,” but that material things in can’t bring true happiness. “A Reason to Dance” really does give a reason to dance with its old-school jazzy beat, and “He Can Handle It” with a rhythmic island feel.

“The Garden” is CeCe’s solo track, a slower and softer declaration of God’s redeeming grace: “Let me take you back to the garden where we first met… When you fall don’t run and hide just come and find me, I’ll be right there to restore your destiny…”

“Let It Be” the final track featuring Mary Mary is one of my favorites that sends a resounding global message to be God’s hands to others: “When we all see humanity, that’s when we all live in harmony…”

Still is definitely a testament of the brother-sister duo’s continuing tradition of love, faith and encouragement. Be sure to get your copy online or in stores. You can listen to two tracks from the album “Grace,” and “Close to You” in the previous Music Notes post here.

“Still BeBe & CeCe, still what we believe, still about God’s love, still about the music and not the madness. It really says it all in that one word – still.” – BeBe Winans

Here is some of the latest buzz in all things Gospel music:

Reach Records Altered Minds Tour

After the powerful energy of the Don’t Waste Your Life Tour, Reach Records is launching the Altered Minds on October 1st, blending Christian Rock and Rap. The tour will feature artists like Lecrae, After Edmund, Sho Baraka (in November), Tedashii (in October), and Mike’s Chair. From the Reach Records Website:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” – Romans 12:2a

As a culture we need our minds completely altered. Day after day we are bombarded with messages contrary to God’s heart. “Live for yourself” is the constant pressure we feel and sometimes unscriptural messages even work their way in…

Visit http://reachrecords.com/alteredminds for tour dates and locations.

Stellar Awards First Round Voting Ends October 3rd

Be sure to vote in the first round of the 25th Annual Stellar Awards to have your voice heard. Click here to vote for your favorite artists.

Gospel Music Channel Music Video Awards

There’s still time to vote in the Gospel Music Channel Awards. Viewers have until Thursday, October 8 to vote during Round 1. The second round of voting begins Monday, October 19. Voting closes Friday, November 13. The top videos of 2009 will be revealed Saturday, January 2 on Gospel Music Channel. Click here to vote for your favorite artists’ videos.

Reflections

“All of the hurdles I’ve crossed as an artist and the business aspects I’ve experienced and learned. It has been my dream to share with those who want it to be their dream.
Because of my experiences and desires as an artist being up under a record company, I’ve thought about ‘what it is that an artist should get?’ I’ve tried to look at it now, as the CEO of the company, balanced against my experiences as an artist…

“And when I say I want to try and pursue someone else’s dreams, I really mean that. I know it’s hard out there in this industry, so I want to be a vehicle to help others. It would be nice to have someone say, ‘Thank you for being a blessing to my career in helping me step out and become an artist.”

– Karen Clark Sheard on launching her own record label Karew Records in article by Lisa Collins on GospelMusicChannel.com (click here for the article).

Recent and Upcoming Album Release Listings

Don’t miss out on these great recent releases from Gospel and Christian artists:

BeBe and CeCe Winans – “Still,” October 6th
Check out the video below with a sampler from their highly anticipated album:

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