This American Yule

With conductor/artistic director HARRY CHRISTOPHERS at the helm, the HANDEL AND HAYDN SOCIETY offers a journey through traditional carols using American tunes.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Nnenna’s Unconventional Yule

An optimistic, upbeat, celebratory outpouring of emotion and spirit completely in tune with the season that inspires its unconventional approach.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Tchaikovsky, Straight & Ellingtonized (Or, ‘Let’s Play Two!’)

TCHAIKOVSKY wrote THE NUTCRACKER SUITE, DUKE ELLINGTON and BILLY STRAYHORN reimagined it, and HARMONIE ENSEMBLE NEW YORK offers both versions on a must-have holiday album.
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Ellingtonian ‘Nutcracker’

An appreciation of THE NUTCRACKER SUITE as DUKE ELLINGTON & BILLY STRAYHORN reimagined it in 1960 and of a new take by THE HARMONIA ENSEMBLE conducted by STEVEN RICHMOND.
by David McGee
 

 

 

All in All, A Most Wonderful Time

A tasty selection of tracks from three of ANDY WILLIAMS's eight Yuletide albums, including several superb tracks with arranger-conductor-producer ROBERT MERSEY.
by David McGee
 

 
 

A Christmas Dialogue Continues

Consider Classic as the next installment of Martina McBride’s ongoing dialogue with Christmas, and a fairly scintillating one at that. It earns its title.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Ol’ Christmas Yin-Yang

GEORGE JONES & TAMMY WYNETTE cut only one Christmas single as a duo, but solo, each artist made worthwhile contributions to seasonal music. This Classic more than earns its title.
by David McGee
 

 
 

No Words Necessary

If you were to select only all-instrumental albums of holiday music, you could hardly do better than to latch onto disparate Yuletide forays by LEROY ANDERSON and JOHN FAHEY
by David McGee
 

 

 

What Becomes a Classic Most?

Streisand at her apex in recordings made almost three-and-a-half decades apart. Make no mistake--she’s the classic here, and a classy one at that.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Big Brass Ones for Christmas

On its fifth holiday album, CHRISTMASTIME IS HERE, CANADIAN BRASS honors the music of animated Yule favorites and the arrangements of LUTHER HENDERSON and BRANDON RIDENOUR.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Christmas As He Knew It

JOHNNY CASH's CLASSIC CHRISTMAS ALBUM is a sampling from the three Yule albums the Man in Black recorded for Columbia Records. Family and faith are the major, moving themes here.
by David McGee
 

 
 

A Classic Restored

Long unavailable on these shores in CD form, a Christmas classic from GLEN CAMPBELL, 1968's THAT CHRISTMAS FEELING, has finally been reissued by Capitol Nashville. Noel!
by David McGee