KDHX 88.1 FM
- Somerset Wassail-Artisan (Lyrically, this is a good reminder of how caroling is about brightening your community and how we're all interconnected.)
- Do You Hear What I Hear?-The ReGeneration (A compelling a cappella rendition featuring nice contrasts between the soprano and baritone voices.)
- It Doesn't Have To Be That Way-Jim Croce (I'm always liked Croce's "Maybe this isn't the best Christmas so far, but it can still be salvaged" attitude in the lyrics. Christmas is a season of hope, after all.)
- Caroling, Caroling-The Manhattan Transfer (Four voices with the force of a choir make this my go-to rendition of this carol. Appropriately cheerful and concise.)
- Christmas Time Is Here-Warren Wolf (Vibes complement the piano melody in this standout tune from "A Charlie Brown Christmas.")
- White Christmas-Oscar Peterson (Sublime piano, guitar, and rhythm section. Also recommended: the most beautiful version of "Away In A Manger" I've ever heard.)
- Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town-Jimmy McGriff (Hip organ and guitar; you just know this Santa knows how to read people and chooses the right gifts.)
- The Many Moods Of Christmas, Suite 2 (Atlanta Symphony and Chorus/Robert Shaw, conductor) (This medley encompasses an impressive range of carols, from the reverence of "O Sanctissima" to the exuberance of "Joy To The World" to the stately procession that is "March Of The Three Kings.")
- It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (Philadelphia Brass Ensemble) (As usual, the ensemble shows reverence for the melody in this respectful rendition. I also recommend the ensemble's concise, mighty rendition of "Bring A Torch, Jeannette, Isabella" and basically everything on the album, "A Festival Of Carols In Brass.")
- What Child Is This? (John McDermott Ensemble) (A powerful voice, with appropriately solemn accompaniment from the harp, strings, and winds.)
