After making his solo recording debut mere months earlier with the instrumental piano album
The Sound of Peace,
John Fluker returned with a holiday set that, at least in part, is more in keeping with his day job as a background vocalist and vocal coach.
J Is for Joy takes a handful of religiously oriented Christmas carols and presents them in R&B/pop arrangements that sound more like the '80s than the 2000s. Starting with "Oh Come All Ye Faithful,"
Fluker makes like a one-man
Boyz II Men, keeping the lyrics but largely forgetting the familiar melody and traditional approach. The same holds true on his original, "Follow the Brightest Star," and four other public domain holiday songs. Then,
Fluker reverts to his instrumental self, repeating four of the songs in contemporary jazz/new age versions largely without vocals, concluding with a solo piano on "Silent Night." It's as if he can't help trying to show off all his talents rather than coming up with a Christmas album that's consistent all the way through.