Christmas in New Orleans
Truth in packaging:Christmas in New Orleansboasts a decidedly regional panorama of seasonal favorites--with one or two originals, including Milton Batiste's completely charming "Big Fat Santa Is Coming to Town." Of course, you've really never heard some of these chestnuts until you've heard the renowned Zion Harmonizers gospel choir's "Silent Night" and "White Christmas" or Tommy Ridgley's cookin' arrangements of "Please Come Home for Christmas" and "Silver Bells." That these singers and players are fairly well known among New Orleans music buffs is great, but many of them remain relatively obscure to the rest of the world. That should be an invitation to join the party, whether it means singing along with Charmaine Neville's boisterous "Santa Baby" or swinging and moaning on the "Night Before Christmas Blues." After all, New Orleans music is the world's music. Recommended.--Martin Keller