(Holiday) Niia - Christmas with Niia - Candid
Christmas with Niia is a 13-track collection of jazz arrangements of holiday favorites from Los Angeles-based vocalist, pianist and composer Niia, produced by Spencer Zahn (Niia’s acclaimed, V; Dawn Richard’s, Pitchfork, and Best New Music album, Pigments). The record moves easily between traditional carols (“O Holy Night,” “Joy to the World,” “O Come O Come Emmanuel”), jazz standards (“Christmas Time Is Here,” “The Christmas Song,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”) and modern pop hits recast as swing (“Wonderful Christmastime,” “Last Christmas,” “Santa Tell Me”). Focus track, “This Christmas”, is a buoyant, soulful take on the holiday classic, while the single, “Wonderful Christmastime”, trades the original’s synths for a warm acoustic jazz arrangement. Niia’s voice, which The New York Times described as “husky in depth but tender in tone,” ties it all together, making the album an easy fit for holiday gatherings, dinner parties and in-store play. Out now digitally, with the LP (maroon vinyl) and CD arriving December 4.
Gabriel Mark Hasselbach - "Christmastime Is Here" - Windtunnel Records
Some records are made to climb charts. This one was made to be given away — in spirit, at least — and its title tells the whole story. Christmas music is the most generous music there is. These are songs nobody owns, and everybody owns: melodies that have been sung around pianos, played in lobbies and living rooms, and passed hand to hand for generations. To record them is not to claim them, but to wrap them up as carefully as you can and hand them to someone whose holidays you hope will be a little warmer for the music in them. That is the impetus behind My Christmas Gift To You. Guaraldi’s wistful waltz, taken at a luxurious, unhurried pace — the longest, lushest glow on the record’s front half. Gabriel doubles himself beautifully, flugelhorn carrying the melody with a tone so warm and round it practically steams, flute tracing silver filigree above it. Miles Black’s keyboards cushion everything like fresh snow. Nostalgia, distilled.
ThreeStyle - "Little Drummer Boy" - WLM
Experience “Little Drummer Boy” like never before! ThreeStyle brings this timeless Christmas classic to life with a fresh, modern sound that blends contemporary production, uplifting energy, and the magic of the holiday season. Whether you’re decorating the tree, celebrating with family, or enjoying cozy winter evenings, this new version delivers a vibrant twist while honoring the spirit of the original. Add it to your Christmas playlist and celebrate the season with ThreeStyle’s exciting new take on “Little Drummer Boy.” Personnel: Magdalena Chovancova – Soprano Saxophone, Damon Dae – Vocals, Adam Jarzmik – Keyboards, Gabriela Konrad – Drums, Robert Fertl – Guitars, Bass, Percussion, Production
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Tanya Nolan – "Mistletoe" - ArtsessionZ
Billboard-charting recording artist Tanya Nolan brings warmth and romance to the holiday season with “Mistletoe,” a soulful Christmas song celebrating love, togetherness and the simple joy of having that special someone close. The song moves away from material gifts and focuses on what truly matters during the holidays, sharing a kiss beneath the mistletoe, candlelight, December memories and the heartfelt wish to have the one you love home for Christmas. With heartfelt lyrics, cozy holiday imagery and Tanya’s signature powerhouse vocals, “Mistletoe” reminds us that the greatest Christmas gift isn’t something you can buy, it’s being with the person you love.
(Holiday) RADS Krusaders - Gifts from the Wise Men (EP) - NAMF
There’s something especially satisfying about hearing a band with deep musical roots return to the holiday season with a project that feels less like a collection of seasonal standards and more like a reunion of old friends in a room full of great grooves. R.A.D.S. Krusaders—whose history reaches back to Texas Southern University and the mentorship of the late Joe Sample—have long carried forward the Crusaders’ essential marriage of jazz improvisation, R&B soul, funk and sophisticated ensemble interplay. Their new four song holiday EP, Gifts from the Wise Men, brings that legacy into a warmly imaginative Christmas setting, with Mark Scurlock Jr. on tenor saxophone, Jarvis Hooper on trombone, Nic Allen on bass and John Fontenot on drums, joined by several special guests. Rather than simply dressing familiar melodies in holiday ornaments, the group reshapes them with swinging rhythms, colorful horn rapport, atmospheric textures and the kind of musicianship that makes each arrangement its own little seasonal world.
Mike Raines - "Christmas in Chicago" - 55 South
“Christmas in Chicago” is a beautifully crafted acoustic piano track that blends the rustic warmth of organic instrumentation with the unmistakable sparkle of the holiday season. The song is anchored by a grounding, acoustic piano and warmth of the Rhodes Keys that drives the melody forward like a peaceful stroll through a snow-covered city. This comforting foundation is layered with the bright, shimmering chimes of traditional holiday bells, adding a touch of festive magic without overpowering the song’s heartfelt, unplugged essence. Beyond its festive city imagery, “Christmas in Chicago” serves as a gentle emotional anchor, stripping away the noise to remind us of what truly matters. The steady, heartbeat-like pace of the piano speaks to the enduring comfort of home, family, and faith. The soaring, bright melodies evoke a sense of profound hope and shared joy.