Al Jarreau?s voice and presentation do not fall gently and comfortably on everybody?s ears at the best of times — no matter whether he sings blues, jazz or, in this case, old Christmas favourites.

I?ve always listened to his music with mixed feelings: occasionally he does something that appeals, but generally I found his style a little too outlandish, too off the wall and sometimes downright yawningly boring.

On this album he brings some "Jarreau-isms", as he calls it, to 13 Christmas songs, including the much-recorded 'White Christmas', 'O Come All Ye Faithful', 'I?ll Be Home For Christmas' and 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas'.

And unfortunately it just doesn?t work. In fact, some of it is simply awful.

Not only do most of the numbers on this CD suffer from many years of festive season over-exposure, but he also sings them in an almost silly, child-like fashion which makes it sound as though he is reading bedtime fairytales to sleepy toddlers.

There is not a single song on this CD that stands even a remote chance of ensuring this album?s survival. It?s a drearily dull lot not even worthy of a listen. Even Jarreau fans will pull their noses up at it.