With the passing of Whiney Houston and with Mariah Carey retreating into her falsetto whispers, the number of powerhouse ladies with caterwauling melissma are fast becoming a rare bred.  Thank God we have Celine Dion in North America and on the other side of the pond we have Leona Lewis.  Lewis first came to prominence in 2006 after she had a landslide win at the third season of "The X Factor" (the UK equivalent of "American Idol"). Fans have been so wowed by Lewis' jaw dropping open syllable belting that they need no persuasion snatching up copies of her debut album "Spirit."  As a result, the record sold over 30 million copies worldwide.  While the album's lead single "Bleeding Love" became a number one record in over 30 countries.  She was later hailed by Billboard magazine "Top New Artist" in 2008.  Though last year's album "Glassheart" dip a little in terms sales and chart performances, all the riffraff are quickly cleared away with the advent of her much anticipated festive debut "Christmas, With Love."

Lewis first found her muse when she was performing a set of Motown tunes on her "Glassheart" Tour. Intrigued by the use of tambourines to accent the back beat and the call and response singing style borrowed from Gospel music, Lewis spearheaded for a Motown direction for her Christmas effort.  Partnering with producers Biff Stannard and Ash Howes (Spice Girls, Kylie Minogue & U2), they have come up with 3 originals and 7 traditional songs.   Let's deal first with the originals:  any writer of Christmas songs knows that it's a tough call placing new compositions alongside transcendent carols such as "Joy to the World" and "Silent Night."  And Leona Lewis' "One More Sleep" comes close to being a future Christmas classic.  With surging drive that is constantly moving towards it crescendo, Lewis builds up the anticipation as she thrillingly counts down the days when she will be reunited with her beau. One listen to this song and we will find its sweetness  sticking to our psyche as Lewis belts: "I've got 5 more nights of sleeping on my own/4 more days until you're coming home."    

Love doesn't take a backseat when it comes to "Mr. Right," the second of the three originals.  Calling to mind Mariah Carey's iconic "All I Want for Christmas Is You" with its bass effect, staccato drum sounds and bell chimes, "Mr Right" finds Lewis expressing her with desire for a man for Christmas.  Ballad lovers who have been swooned by Lewis' inert vocal strength and her multi-octave ranges will adore "Your Hallelujah."  But more importantly, "Your Hallelujah" is one of those songs that will get us to pause and ruminate with the song's most piercing line being: "It's a sweet prayer/knowing someone's up there hearing it/Divine punch lines takes a little time but I'm getting it." Joining the red carpet of divas such as Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Faith Hill who have given standing ovations of "O Holy Night," Lewis doesn't disappoint with those sky scraping notes especially towards the song's climax. And if you want a manifesto of Lewis' Gospel soul, "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" and "Silent Night" are gorgeous examples.  

Lewis has expressed her desire to record a classical music album and here she gives us a preview with her rendition of "Ave Marie."  Though she hits all the notes well but it's a little on the non-descript and colorless side. Moreover, it's certainly out of place on a contemporary soul Christmas album.  Nevertheless, if you are into some retro Christmas soul by a lady who can bring down the roof with her dynamic mezzo-soprano, "Christmas, With Love" is it.