Happy Holidays, friends.
Two notes to start: first, we have a very special guest this week on the newsletter and the podcast, our good friend Dr. Gabe Lewis-O’Connor. Gabe is a conductor, professional soloist and choral performer, who describes himself as a “daily meditator, amateur woodworker, father and husband” (checks out). Though that all may sound very casual, his credentials are serious business: he’s got a DMA in conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and for four years sang in the vocal ensemble, Chanticleer (which the New Yorker called the “world’s reigning male chorus,” just incase you’re not yet hip to them).
So happy to have Gabe on the team!
Second, we’re going to be taking some time off for the holidays to reset and reload both the newsletter and the podcast. We’ll be back at you likely at the start of February with a bunch of new content and new friends. That doesn’t mean Foray Music will be dormant during that time—we hope to catch-up on a bunch of interviews, articles, and videos that are currently sitting partially done on our hard drives in the meantime. We hope you’ll take this time to check out any newsletters or pods you may have missed this fall, and that you’ll remember us when you’re famous, I mean, keep an eye out when we come back from hiatus.
Seriously, thank you for all of your support—it’s been an amazing year for Foray Music because of you!
But enough news, let’s get on with the reason for the season. 🎄
Here’s the fourth entry in our series of best-of lists, Four for Foray—from our nerdy little workshop up in the North Pole—these are our favorite holiday albums (all forty of them!).
Christmas with PJ Morton by PJ Morton: this album? Yeah. The originals? Yeah. Just listen to it.
8 Days of Christmas by Destiny’s Child: being from Houston, it was mandatory that we listen to this album during the holiday season. It’s one of the few albums where you get to hear all of the members do their own thing.
Christmas with Yolanda Adams by Yolanda Adams: this is another Houston staple. It has one of my favorite arrangements of O Holy Night on it. It isn’t just another Christmas album by a gospel artist: she seamlessly blends pop tendencies with her gospel sensibilities.
The Magic of Christmas by Natalie Cole: ok, so I had a dance solo to Mary, Did You Know off of this record and from then on, I was OBSESSED. The arrangements for her with orchestra? *chefs kiss* The London Symphony Orchestra? Come on!
Christmas Album by the Jackson 5: we all know why this one is on the list. “Wow! Mommy’s kissing Santa Claus!”
Christmas with Nat King Cole by Nat King Cole: before Natalie, there was Nat. For me, his version of The Christmas Song is the quintessential Christmas song. It is not Christmas without this album.
From the Middle of a Frozen Lake (Vol. II) by Charlie Christenson: yes. Charlie has a Christmas album—well, multiple! I love this one in particular because it does not scream Christmas—it subtly screams Christmas winter vibes. Also, “Walking in the Air” is a beautiful song that Charlie just does so beautifully.
Merry Christmas by Mariah Carey: this album is iconic, but I like it not because of “All I Want for Christmas” *gasp* It has one of my favorite versions of “Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child.” This was the first Christmas song I learned from my grandmother—we would sing it every Christmas.
A Holly Dolly Christmas by Dolly Parton: queen.
One Wish by Whitney Houston: queen 2.0.
Let It Snow by Chanticleer: a departure for this a cappella choral group out of San Francisco, Let It Snow features arrangements for choir and big band. Some classics, some “outside the box” stuff—listen for the Stravinsky reference in “Jingle Bells”!
John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together by John Denver and the Muppets: This album, originally released in 1979, is about as warm, hilarious, and wholesome as they come. Pairing Denver’s musical honesty with classic Muppets shenanigans was a genius musical decision.
Once Upon a Christmas by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers: with all the electric piano and vocal smoothness you could ever want, this album fills you up more than your Italian grandma’s homemade eggnog recipe.
The Gift: Acoustic Offerings for the Holiday Season by Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumbel: one of my favorites from childhood, my mom would put this CD on the fancy 6-disk changer on Christmas morning for some subtle folk and celtic inspired arrangements of Christmas classics.
Merry Christmas by Johnny Mathis: there has never been a voice quite like that of Johnny Mathis, and his quick vibrato and lazer-focused intonation go with the lush orchestration and wordless choral backing like your favorite milk and cookies.
The Young Messiah (1990 VHS version): while the audio is good, the video is mind-blowing. This was a musical reimagining of Handel’s Messiah, set in a modern and accessible fashion (for the 1980’s). If you can see past the hair, glitter, and shoulder pads there is some incredible music-making going on here…
Songs for Christmas by Sufjan Stevens: bliss out with Sufjan’s sometimes ethereal, sometimes unorthodox Christmas album (actually a double-album). He has almost every song you could ever want here.
Simply Christmas by Leslie Odom Jr.: light some candles, pour yourself a glass of red wine, and indulge in the silken voice and sensual arrangements. Whew…
Love Actually Soundtrack by Various Artists: certainly not an “official” Christmas album, but the music is so intertwined with the holiday movie plot it may as well be. From Norah Jones to Wyclef, Joni Mitchell to Otis Redding, there is something here for everyone.
Louis Wishes You a Cool Yule by Louis Armstrong: a new compilation from Verve (from the Fall of 2022) this album is a treat I’d love to own on vinyl. Great retro styling and classic tracks, including a reading of “Twas the night before Christmas” by Satchmo himself.
Christmas & Chill by Ariana Grande: Ariana always delivers a bright pop sound, and this album follows suit.
A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi: This album I associate with family and joy. A swinging album, this accompanies the Charlie Brown movie, and is bound to get you in a festive mood.
Christmas Time with the Judds by The Judds: A highlight of this album is “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem.”
Christmas Eve with Burl Ives by Burl Ives: This is one of those albums that is just Christmas to a T.
Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas by Ella Fitzgerald: Ella—need we say more?
That’s Christmas to Me by Pentatonix: I have to admit, Pentatonix Christmas albums were central to my Christmas listening growing up.
Christmas by Michael Bublé: Bublé’s voice is so fitting for Christmas, with swinging arrangements and Bublé’s style as the backbone for a really great album.
Christmas Portrait (Special Edition/Reissue) by the Carpenters: An album with beautiful arrangements and quintessential songs.
Raffi’s Christmas Album: A Collection of Christmas Songs for Children by Raffi: perfect for childhood.
Carols From Cambridge: The Very Best Sacred Christmas Carols by Choir of King’s College: I had to include a choir album. Singing with others at Christmastime is one of my favorite things.
The Spirit of Christmas by Ray Charles: don’t be shocked: this is a new find for me—even though I’ve heard this recording tons of times in some of my favorite holiday movies of all time (“That Spirit of Christmas” in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and “Winter Wonderland” in When Harry Met Sally), and I’m into it so much it made the top of my list this year. The fender rhodes on this recording is absolutely on point and Charles’ vocals are magnificent.
When My Heart Finds Christmas by Harry Connick, Jr.: Connick, Jr’s first Christmas album from way back in 1993. These big band arrangements hit so hard—all arranged and orchestrated by Connick, Jr. himself, by the way. There’s a reason why it’s one of the best selling holiday albums of all time. It’s a masterclass in doing all of the things at the absolute highest level.
At Christmas by James Taylor: ‘tis the season for jazzy James Taylor. The straightest tone of all time is absolutely nails-ville on these holiday classics. The Chris Botti (another Christmas album all-star) feature on “Winter Wonderland” and the saucy lydian ending to “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” are highlights (at least for me). “You better watch out,” you know?
Christmas Songs by Sinatra by Frank Sinatra: Sinatra’s third studio album on Columbia Records, first released October 4, 1948 is actually a compilation of a bunch of things, some of which had been previously recorded or broadcast on the radio. My favorite track here is “Winter Wonderland,” which starts off with this classic Hollywood/radio drama vibe of marketing speech (“We’ve planned a show playing it safe all the way, strictly loaded with favorites, and fun to do.”), followed by drama (“We shall start off with me playing the little man on the weather barometer… predicting light snow, followed by lighter music.”), leading seamlessly, no joke, into singing (“Sleigh bells ring…”). It’s a time capsule into a jollier, show-biz-ier time.
Christmas Album by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass: the album cover features a closeup of Herb Alpert (trumpet pop heart-throb of the 1960’s) dressed like Santa Claus staring straight into the camera playing the trumpet. This album is great, but it’s also legit hilarious. Albert is super into playing a bunch of long runs of scales whenever he gets the chance (even on ballads), which is so funny to me for whatever reason, and the vocal arrangements go surprisingly, like they’re really surprising, hard.
December by George Winston: this is the version of “Carol of the Bells” they’re gonna play at my wedding and my funeral. Yes, you read that right.
He Is Christmas by Take 6: hope I’m not offending any Take 6 fans out there by saying this is my favorite album by the vocal jazz super-group. The arranging here, both harmonically and rhythmically, is god-tier level stuff.
A Child is Born by Geri Allen: pianist and composer Geri Allen’s 2011 Christmas album might not be on everyone’s radar, but it really should be. Perfect for the dinner party you’re about to have with all the intimidatingly smart people you know—this album is low-key, but incredibly deep.
Miracles: The Holiday Album by Kenny G: I’m putting this here unironically. Kenny G sleighs. He plays all the notes. He circular breathes and plays all the notes for a really long time. He writes and arranges. He, for some reason, agreed to an album cover photoshoot where he is playing the soprano saxophone to a naked baby in front of a fireplace, and somehow this photo made it past a whole room of record executives to us, the fans. A miracle, indeed. This is G’s first holiday album, it sold almost 3 million copies when it was released in 1994. And you know what, I agree with the naked baby, soprano saxophone is cool.
So Much Wine (EP) by Phoebe Bridgers: released just a few weeks ago, this is an absolute instant holiday classic and everything Bridgers fans (me!) were hoping it would be. The vibes when she sings, “I had nothing to say on Christmas Day / When you threw all your clothes in the snow / When you burnt your hair, and knocked over chairs / I just tried to stay out of your way.” I’ve been there, my friend. It’s called Christmas.
You’ve heard what we’ll be rockin’ to around our Xmas trees, but we want to know what’ll be on your naughty and nice lists. Talk to us on social media and in the comments below, and from the entire Foray Family to yours, happy holidays!
We think you’re Santa, we mean super,
Gabe ⛄️ Alexandria 🏂 Amy 🎄 Charlie
Extra credit: Where my background singers? Whoo!