A Timeless Christmas [Bonus Track]

Lyricist: Eddie James .
Personnel: Jonathan Butler (vocals, guitar, background vocals); Gerald Albright (vocals, saxophone); Jamil Whiting, Danielle Stephens, Late Great Daniel Johnson, Olanrewaju Agbabiaka, LeAnne Palmore (vocals, background vocals); Lalah Hathaway, Marvin Winans, CeCe Winans (vocals); Israel Houghton (guitar, acoustic guitar); Johnny "Natural" Najara, Drew Ramsey, Akil Thompson, Rick Watford (guitar); David Davidson (violin); John Catchings (cello); Doug Moffett (flute, saxophone); Marcus Miller (bass clarinet); Mark Douthit (saxophone); Mike Hanes, Vinnie Ciesielski (trumpet); Barry Green (trombone); Buddy Strong (piano, organ); Luther "Mano" Hanes (piano, keyboards); Tommy Sims (bass guitar); Scott Williamson, Will Kennedy , Dan Needham (drums); Javier Solís (percussion); Jovaun Woods, Markita Knight, Neville Diedericks, Dakri Brown, Jennifer Duncan, Jerard Woods, Melonie Daniels (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: John Jaszcz.
Recording information: Blue Heaven Recording, Spring Hill, TN; First Avenue Sound, Franklin, TN; First Tribe Studios, Signal Hill, CA; Platinum Lab Recording, Nashville, TN; Riverphlo Studios, Ontario, Canada; Studio A, Dearborn Heights, MI; Wayne Cook Studios, Glendale, CA; Wholetone Productions, Monument, CO.
Author: Michael Coleman .
Arrangers: Israel Houghton; Luther "Mano" Hanes; Jim Gray.
Christmas records are easy enough to make: slap a few carols and chestnuts on a disc, release it in early November, and you're good to go. Excellent Christmas records, however, require taste and imagination, something that the neo-gospel group Israel & New Breed have in spades. This Grammy-nominated album begins with a truly unique half-straight, half-funky take on "The Nutcracker Suite," and includes interestingly juxtaposed songs in medley ("Silent Nocturne"), rewrites ("We Wish You a Timeless Christmas"), and some juicy guest-vocal turns by CeCe Winans and Jonathan Butler.