While Rahsaan Patterson offers up a few familiar holiday songs onThe Ultimate Gift ("Little Drummer Boy," "Wonderful Christmastime"), it’s his six original songs that make the spirits bright. Possessing a marvelous voice reminiscent of Stevie Wonder, Patterson’s tunes evoke a variety of moods – albeit not always merry. “That First Christmas,” for example, is a melancholy ballad about being without a loved one at Christmas for the first time. “Angels (Sing)” follows, an ethereal interpretation of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” - with beats. Here, Patterson’s voice swoops and soars into the upper-range, surrounded by an army of ambient. Fast forward to the fresh Latin groove of “Christmas at My House,” and you have a perfect excuse to break into a bona fide Snoopy dance - in fact, you may not be able to resist! Giving a nod to an obvious influence, Patterson also turns in a sweet version of Stevie Wonder’s “What Christmas Means to Me.” This is an original and highly enjoyable holiday release that should stand the test of time.