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A warm set of solo tracks from pianist Dave Brubeck – a record that's a fair bit different than the early material you might know from the jazz legend, with a very personal, intimate quality that really fits the spirit of the season! Dave's work on the keys isn't nearly as modern as in the early days – and there's a nice dose of sentiment that really matches the right Holiday flavor for the material – a set list that includes "Away In A Manger", "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", "To Us Is Given", "Run Run Run To Bethlehem", "Jingle Bells", "The Christmas Song", and "What Child Is This". CD

Dave McKenna gives his own solo piano take on the Holiday classics – titles include "Silver Bells", "Adeste Fideles", "O Little Town Of Bethlehem", "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear", "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", "Sleigh Ride", and "O Tannenbaum". CD

Frank Sinatra's first run of Christmas work – material recorded for Columbia Records in the late 40s, but quite similar to his better-known Holiday sides for Capitol in the 50s! As with that work, the style here is quite respectful of the spirit of the season – more reverent than playful, although always with an undercurrent of sadness that makes the tunes especially nice – that Christmas longing that would show up in the best Holiday records, which Sinatra always seemed to get. Heck, even the version of "Jingle Bells" sounds a bit melancholy – and pretty darn nice, too – next to tunes that include "Christmas Dreaming", "Winter Wonderland", "Let It Snow", "Santa Claus Is Comin To Town", and "White Christmas" – plus a medley of "O Little Town Of Bethlehem/Joy To The World/White Christmas", which begins with a cool spoken introduction. CD

A groovy batch of Christmas carols from the Singers Unlimited, harmonizing in their trademark mellow, jazzy style over some nice arrangements by group member Gene Puerling! The feel is very sweet – fantastically harmonic, and set to impeccable MPS production – and most of the tunes here are taken in short versions that slide groovily into one another. Titles include "Deck The Halls", "Caroling Caroling", "Nigh Bethlehem", "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear", "Silent Night", "Joy To The World", 'Wassail Song", "Good King Wenceslas", "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". CD

A groovy batch of Christmas carols from the Singers Unlimited, harmonizing in their trademark mellow, jazzy style over some nice arrangements by group member Gene Puerling! The feel is very sweet – fantastically harmonic, and set to impeccable MPS production – and most of the tunes here are taken in short versions that slide groovily into one another. Titles include "Deck The Halls", "Caroling Caroling", "Nigh Bethlehem", "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear", "Silent Night", "Joy To The World", 'Wassail Song", "Good King Wenceslas", "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". CD

A vintage Holiday recording from The Staple Singers – a set recorded back in the group's earliest, rootsiest days! The sound here is quite spare – no surprise, given that the session was done by Riverside Records, at a time when the label was pushing the gospel-influenced quartet onto folk audiences of the 60s – but it's also that spare quality that gives the record a timeless feel that holds up nicely. Instrumentation is just a bit of guitar from Roebuck Staples and organ from Maceo Woods, plus some drums – and titles include "The Last Month Of The Year", "Holy Unto The Lord", "The Savior Is Born", "Sweet Little Jesus Boy", "There Was A Star", "Silent Night", "O Little Town Of Bethlehem", and "No Room At The Inn". CD

Not the usual Motown Christmas set you might imagine – as the record features new material, not old Holiday soul classics – and many of the numbers are special duets recorded just for this project! The set list is impressive – way better than we were expecting – and although the cover art is a bit underwhelming, our hats are off to Motown for re-igniting the label's commitment to quality Christmas tunes! Titles include "Go Tell It On The Mountain/Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Gregory Porter & Anita Wilson, "The Christmas Song" by Ne Yo & Tasha Cobbs, "It's Christmas Time" by Smokey Robinson & Kevin Ross, "This Christmas" by Brian Courtney Wilson & Gene Moore, "Angels We Have Heard On Hihg" by Kierra Sheard & Chrisette Michele, "Mary Did You Know" by India Arie & Gene Moore, "O Holy Night" by Smokie Norful, "O Come All Ye Faithful" by Tasha Cobbs, and "Bethlehem" by Kem & Janice Gaines. CD

A Holiday greeting from the folks at Atomicat Records – served up in the sort of collection they do with other music during all the other seasons of the year! The set's overflowing with gems from the 50s and 60s – a total of 28 obscure holiday tunes, plus a few better-known tracks – all to make a very fresh collection of Christmas goodies! Titles include "Rockin Bells" by Bill Robbin, "Born In Bethlehem" by Famous Blue Jay Singers, "Christmas Here Christmas There" by Ray Pettis, "Christmas Kisses" by The Bookends, "Cowboy Santa Claus" by Bill Lacey, "The Robin" by The Holidays, "The Bells Of St Mary's" by Lynn Taylor, "Does It Have To Be Christmas" by Ray Pettis, "Happy New Year To You" by The Qualities, "Come On Santa" by Kay Martin, "Christmas In Japan" by Paul Anka, "Merry Twist Mas" by Jay Matty, and "Santy's Movin On" by Homer & Jethro. CD

A musical package that really gets at the cultural tension of the twelfth month of the year – the "battle between Christmas and the festival of lights", to quote the title – served up here in a double-length collection of unusual seasonal songs! CD one features unusual Hanukkah numbers, mostly from the 20th century – including some very traditional tunes and great tongue in cheek remakes – most of which we've never heard before. CD two is even cooler, though – a whole set of Christmas tunes, but played by Jewish artists – illustrating the cultural challenges that come from working in the mainstream during the Holidays! The mix of tunes is pretty great – from rock numbers to vocal jazz, folk, and a bit of easy listening – some familiar, some obscure – and again a pretty great set of tracks! The package also comes with an oversize book that details the songs and features some key writings on the "battle" – and the 2CD set features 34 tracks that include "Little Drummer Boy" by Bob Dylan, "Grandma's Dreidel" by Mickey Katz, "Hanukah Tree" by the Klezmatics, "Twelve Days Of Christmas" by Dinah Shore, "Holiday ID" by Lou Reed, "El Dia De La Navidad" by Larry Harlow, "Santa Claus Came In The Spring" by Benny Goodman, "It's Christmas All Over The World" by Sammy Davis Jr, "I Got A Cold For Christmas" by The Ames Brothers, "A Chanukah Quiz" by Gladys Gewirtz, "Hanukkah Dance" by Woody Guthrie, "Twas The Night Before Chanukah" by Stanley Adams & Sid Wayne, "The Latke Song" by Debbie Friedman, "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" by Richard Tucker, and "The Problem" by Ray Brenner & Barry Blitzer. CD