This is a deeply soulful send-off for the holidays that rocks, twangs, grinds and fais do dos. If there was a musical term for music with deep rooted guts, passion and meaning, I'd add that too to describe the performances and fresh takes on holiday classics and seasonal originals from Willie Nelson, Marcia Ball, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Asleep at the Wheel, Ruthie Foster, the Rev. Horton Heat and others.

Several stand-outs include a set featuring the Imperial Crown Harmonizers with Ruthie Foster, "People Get Ready," the Asylum Street Spankers, "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch," Sara Hickman rendering "We are Each Others' Angels" and Tish Hinajosa's "For a Christmas Night."

As is the case with other programs from David Brown and his Texas Music Matters colleagues, they made the decision to let the music sing out with a minimal host presence. And, the music does sing out, but you're not left unattended. Everything fits.

Thanks and a special additional acknowledgment to the Texas Music Matters crew for taking the extra time and effort to repackage this local show on KUT for national presentation. That extra effort, time and editing are appreciated and makes everyone's life on the receiving end so much easier.

An absolutely delightful, pretty and engaging mix of music and (brief) storytelling that is as officially spiritual as you want -- or don't want.

Every year, Vermont Public Radio's Cheryl Willoughby gathers music, stories and customs from the dark days of December and the hopefully bright lights of the New Year.

As is the case with these shows from previous years, Northern Lights 2009: A Solstice Celebration's variety of music from all over time and geography, is masterfully assembled, paced and segued from piece to piece.

The Kalinitta (tarantella) performed by Arakne Mediterranea and the Henry Villca Suntura Improvisation on a well-known tune are among several musical high points, and the Ensemble Deadalus performance of the traditional Neapolitan "St’ amaro core mio e diventato" is positively freaky.

Suitable for all formats, and contains an ideal music to talk ratio and delivery. "Northern Lights 2009: A Solstice Celebration" is likely to fulfill and balance your holiday music programming goals and scheduling needs with ease.

The accompanying promo and detailed playlist under Additional Files will serve your station and your listeners well.

A holiday program and a different kind of Christmas story.

This is the Christmas story behind the record Rolling Stone calls "one of the best albums ever."

"A Christmas Gift For You," the 1963 record, was the creation of the young and gifted producer Phil Spector and some absolutely exquisite '60s voices and artists, including the legendary LA studio session players known as the "Wrecking Crew" (musicians that the day's more serious session players feared were going to wreck the business because they played in blue jeans and tee-shirts).

Not sure what comes first here — some incomparable holiday arrangements and performances by The Ronettes, Darlene Love and Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans — or the story of how they got together to make the groundbreaking Christmas record in 1963.

You get both — a '60s Rock and Roll Christmas mix and a Christmas story told by the players who, nearly 50 years later, still can't quite believe it truly happened.

"A Christmas Gift For You" poses no risk of temporarily branding your station as an "Oldies" station. It's a good idea to give this program an audition, but it's likely the music, story and storytelling rise to the same standards you apply to your "regular" programming.

Anthony DeCurtis hosts this upbeat music-with-story program that is recommended for almost any format and almost any time of day.

When music and a radio music program can both celebrate the holidays and, at the same time, turn down the gain control on the holiday craze — you've got the best of both worlds.

"Let It Snow," the holiday edition of "Afterglow" (a weekly Jazz program originating from WFIU,) plants itself at the intersection of cool and laid back. Cool, but laid back performances include tracks from Diana Krall (“Winter Wonderland”), Dave Brubeck ("Winter Ballad" with Paul Desmond), Dean Martin, Duke Ellington and Norah Jones.

Guitarist Emily Remler's "Snowfall" is the standout tune and performance of the hour. Breathtaking.

Norah Jones "Don't Miss You at All" provides a similar moment of breath-stopping beauty.

n.b. "Let It Snow" and "Afterglow" emanate from the "Ballads and Big Band" or early “Traditional” jazz format programming tradition — jazz stations should audition the program for optimum placement on your schedule.

Recommended for weekday evenings on your holiday schedule, especially where a breath of calming but cool air is essential.

Perfect for stations looking to add at least one holiday program that doesn't follow the norm, but still absolutely captures the holiday music sound and seasonal craze. The arrangements of known and not so well-known holiday tunes, are rendered with Tullian touches, but their enjoyment is not limited to Jethro Tull fans.

It's a good time to meet and hear the music and thoughts of Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull, and this program makes the introductions clever, pleasingly cynical, smart, unpredictable, intimate and appealing.

Music-to-talk ratio is almost always right where you want it.

Recommended for AAA and other contemporary music formats, news and selected news/music formats.

Highly recommended, but with this and other holiday program recommendations, (my) words are never substitutions for your own ears and expert knowledge of your station's listeners: auditioning is also recommended.