I'm glad to hear so many radio stations getting into the spirit with seasonal tunes. Among today's highlights:
KDHX 88.1 FM
- Happy Holiday-Bing Crosby (Crosby was a voice of authority, so I don't question the sincerity of his holiday wishes.)
- Esta Navidad-Janine (Grandiose trumpet and strings underscore clear, confident vocals.)
WSIE 88.7 FM
- Hark The Herald Angels Sing-James PJ Spraggins featuring Caitlin Edwards (A warm smooth jazz instrumental take on this carol. Edwards's violin playing is a key ingredient in maintaining this arrangement's mood.)
- Sleigh Ride-Mel Torme (Torme's voice conveys carefree seasonal joy with just the right amount of scat singing here.)
KCLC 89.1 FM
- Deck The Halls-Walk Off The Earth (There's a fun energy and a Mighty Mighty Bosstones feel in this fast rendition. The sung bit of "Jingle Bells" in the outro is a nice touch.)
- Carol Of The Meows-Guster ("Carol Of The Bells," as if cats sang it. The repeated singing of only the word Meow reinforces how much cats have to rely on tone when communicating. The final sung-in-unison meow brings the carol to an amusing close.)
KEZK 102.5 FM
- O Holy Night-Martina McBride (McBride conquers one of the harder carols to sing impressively; she hits the glass-shattering notes without overemoting, unlike some vocalists.)
- Joy To The World-Lindsey Stirling (An appropriately uninhibited reading of this carol on violin, with Celtic fiddle touches. Also recommended: Stirling's rendition of "Sleigh Ride.")
K297BI 107.3 FM, a.k.a. WFUN-HD2
- Claude Thornhill: Snowfall (Boston Pops Orchestra/John Williams, conductor) (Fittingly fanciful accompaniment for watching the snow come down in St. Louis today.)
