Comfort & Joy
You might remember this flashy a cappella group from their five-year stint on the award-winning PBS programWhere in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?or from their jazzy Folger's coffee commercials. This time, they apply their considerable talents to Christmas music, releasing their second album of holiday cheer. New bass singer George Baldi helps the group breathe new life into old favorites like "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Home for the Holidays," and "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree"; the vocal arrangements are marked throughout by crisp rhythms, precise harmonies, and witty phrasing. Stretching out beyond doo-wop, they mimic a brass band and Elvis Presley on "Please Come Home for Christmas." And they have some fun with the boy-band movement on the gorgeous "Love and Lights." Although not associated with Christmas, their reggae version of Disney's "Small World" is a charming highlight.--Jaan Uhelszki