POP MUSIC REVIEWS : ‘Colors’ Mixes Seasonal and Soulful Hits

Christmas tunes with a funk beat were the order of the day at “The Colors of Christmas” on Wednesday at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, as Peabo Bryson, Roberta Flack, Patti Austin and Jeffrey Osborne offered a rhythmic mix of seasonal melodies and greatest hits.

The duet numbers were especially impressive: Bryson and Flack in a soulful rendering of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”; Osborne and Austin with a soaring, beautifully harmonized “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?”

Much of the individual work was equally splendid. Flack sang her biggest hit, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” with a cool but intense passion, and followed it with the single most poignant moment of concert--a spirit-lifting “What Child Is This?”

Bryson’s version of “The Christmas Song” was completely his own--untouched by any need to simulate more familiar readings. Austin very nearly stole the show, moving easily from the nostalgic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” to more contemporary numbers.

But there were problems as well. The orchestra’s string section seemed incapable of playing in tune, the arrangements were unchallenging and the rhythm section was only marginally better than a drum machine.

The singers more than made up for the technical difficulties and the flabby orchestral support. “The Colors of Christmas” (which was scheduled to be repeated Thursday) may have added new rhythms to familiar melodies, but it never lost its connection with traditional seasonal values.

The Los Angeles Children’s Choir joined the featured performers for several Christmas tunes, as well as a joyous rendition of “The Little Drummer Boy.”