Album Notes

Just when you think you've heard Christmas music in every form on the planet...think again. The new release by Rufus Harris, Come and Listen: Songs of the Savior, has captured many of the holiday classics that you’ve come to know and love. The creative spin that he lends to these Christmas songs is quite refreshing. As it is with most Christmas music, it's usually obvious what you're about to hear. However, these carefully crafted renditions have managed to maintain the magic of old, while new musical arrangement keeps you guessing as each song unfolds. Unpredictability is what fans have come to expect with Rufus. And he never lets them down.
Paul Kelley Singer/Songwriter

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On the evidence of this 10 track CD, checking in at just under 39 minutes, Rufus Harris from Waterford, Michigan, USA, is a talented guitarist, whether electric or acoustic. On this Yuletide project from 2006, he's taken some old favourite carols, mixed in a couple of recent pieces, done some reworking and arranging, let himself go on a few axe solos and in so doing has managed to escape any accusations from me of excessive Christmas cheesiness. True, his vocals are a little lightweight, but his instrumental and sound engineering proficiency makes up for it: even the antique and done-to-death stuff ("Silent Night", "The Little Drummer Boy", "Joy To The World" et al) benefit from some very thoughtful production, and the opening track, David Crowder's "Come And Listen", has some nice synth strings and good female backing vocals. In clumsier and less capable hands, this might have been Cringe with a capital C but 'Come And Listen' is an admirable Christmas project from an underrated talent.
Trever Kirk - Cross Rhythms Magazine