Joy: A Holiday Collection Music CD

Joy: A Holiday Collection marked the first outing of yuletide music from Jewel, who had skyrocketed to fame following the release of her first two albums (1995’s Pieces of You and 1998’s Spirit). Jewel worked with producers Arif Mardin (Carly Simon, David Bowie, Diana Ross) and Joe Mardin (Queen Latifah, Bette Midler) to record 13 lushly arranged songs. Backed by a choir (which includes such esteemed singers as Vaneese Thomas, James “D-Train” Williams and Janice Pendarvis), the singer’s distinctive vocals and versatile range shine as she performs holiday favorites like "Winter Wonderland," "Joy to the World," "Ave Maria," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "O Holy Night." She also sings several original tracks, including "Face of Love," "Gloria" and a Christmas version of her 1998 hit single, "Hands."