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.