Blog: Christmas album of the day No.9: Reta Watkins - That Christmas Feeling
Worship leader, recording artist and vocal stylist Reta Watkins has unveiled her debut solo project, That Christmas Feeling.
A highlight of the collection, the album's first radio single is a stunning, big band version of the beloved contemporary classic, "Mary Did You Know." While retaining the song's reverential awe, Reta injects a smoldering vitality that carries the tune from the familiar into uncharted territory.
"I guarantee you have never heard this song done this way before," says Reta. "I love the new twist on this song, and I believe listeners are going to love it, too."
"There have been so many beautiful versions of this song, but we wanted to do something nobody else has ever done," says producer Scott Williamson. "I've wanted to do a big band arrangement of "Mary Did You Know" for years. The real challenge was maintaining the reverential tone of the song while staying true to jazz-swing big band style. I think we pulled it off."
"Reta's incredible vocal stylings are perfect for Jason Webb and Scott Williamson's big band arrangement of the song," says James Riley, VP of Promotions, Shamrock Media Group. "She has a way of making the song sound traditional, and contemporary and totally fresh, all at the same time. I can't wait to share it with our friends at radio."
