Byline: Jon Bream; Staff Writer

Like Holidazzle on the Nicollet Mall, the Colors of Christmas at the Ordway has become one of the more recent Twin Cities holiday traditions. Like the parade, Colors follows the same formula every year with a new twist here and a little tweak there. But this year, Peabo Bryson and his three singing friends have put together an extra-special show.

Newcomers Jody Watley and Jon Secada added some youthful vitality and - let's be honest - some sex appeal Tuesday at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul. For the second consecutive year, Oleta Adams brought class and passion, not to mention a magnificent voice and a megawatt smile. And Bryson, an underrated vocalist, was his usual charming self.

But two other qualities distinguished this Colors of Christmas from the...