My Favorite Christmas/Advent/Holiday Music

A friend recently asked me about some of my favorite Christmas recordings, to help them find new music, so I’ll list them here. I’ve decided to at least sort these into vocal and instrumental categories, in case you’re unfamiliar with the artists.

I’ll continue to update this as I come across new favorites…

Instrumental

Beegie Adair (jazz piano)

Jazz Piano Christmas (1999)
Quiet Christmas (2016)
Winter Romance (2009)

The Canadian Brass

The Canadian Brass Noël (1994)
Christmas Time Is Here (2013)
Christmas Tradition (with Eric Robertson, organist; 2008)
A Holiday Tradition (2003)
Sweet Songs of Christmas (2003)

Chris Botti (trumpet)

December (2002)

Eric Nordhoff (piano)

Quiet Christmas (2010)
Quietime — Peace On Earth (2011)

Jack Jezzro (jazz guitar)

An Acoustic Christmas (2000)
Bossa Nova Christmas (2009)
Christmas Guitar (2009)
Smooth Christmas Jazz (2012)

Jim Brickman (piano)

Christmas Piano (2008)
Christmas Romance (2006)
Comfort & Joy: The Sweet Sounds of Christmas (2016)
The Gift (1997)
Homecoming (2007)
The Hymns and Carols of Christmas (2009)
Joy (2016)
Peace (2003)

Kenny G (saxophone)

The Classic Christmas Album (2012)
Faith: A Holiday Album (1999)
The Greatest Holiday Classics (2005)
Miracles: The Holiday Album (1994)
Wishes: A Holiday Album (2002)

London Festival Orchestra

Simply Christmas: Home for the Holidays (with the Canadian Brass, Ayako Shinozaki, and Richard Stoltzman; 2006)

New York Philharmonic

The Joy of Christmas (with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir; 1965)

The Piano Guys

A Family Christmas (2013)

SMS Orchestra

Christmas Meditations for Orchestra

Vince Guaraldi Trio

A Charlie Brown Christmas: Expanded Edition (1965)

Vocal

Alvin & The Chipmunks

Chipmunks Christmas (2012)

Andrea Bocelli

My Christmas (2009)

Andrew Peterson

Behold the Lamb of God (2019)

Andy Williams

40 Christmas Classics (2014)
The Andy Williams Christmas Album (1963)
Merry Christmas (1965)

Barlow Girl

Home for Christmas (2008)

Bing Crosby

A Crosby Christmas (1995)
The Voice Of Christmas: The Complete Decca Christmas Songbook (1998)
White Christmas (1945)

Casting Crowns

Peace On Earth (2008)

Celine Dion

These Are Special Times (1992)

Chanticleer

A Chanticleer Christmas (2010)
Let It Snow (2007)

Chris Tomlin

Adore: Christmas Songs Of Worship (2015)
Christmas Day: Christmas Songs Of Worship (2019)
Glory In The Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship (2009)

David Phelps

Joy, Joy (2000)
O Holy Night (2014)
One Wintry Night (2007)

Frank Sinatra

A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra (2011)
Christmas (2013)

Gaither Vocal Band

Christmas Collection (2015)
Christmas Gaither Vocal Band Style (2008)
Still The Greatest Story Ever Told (1998)

Harry Connick, Jr.

Harry For The Holidays (2003)
What A Night! A Christmas Album (2008)
When My Heart Finds Christmas (1993)

Home Free

Full Of Cheer (2014)
Full Of (Even More) Cheer (2016)

Il Divo

The Christmas Collection (2005)

Jane Monheit

The Season (2005)

Johnny Mathis

Merry Christmas (1958)

Jordan Smith

’Tis The Season (2016)

Josh Groban

Noël (2007)

Julie Andrews

Christmas With Julie Andrews (1982)

The King’s Singers

Christmas Presence (2015)
Christmas Songbook (2016)
Christmas With The King’s Singers (2017)
Joy To The World (2011)
King’s Singers — Christmas (2011)
Let It Snow! (with Albrecht Mayer; 2013)
A Little Christmas Music (with Kiri Te Kanawa, the City of London Sinfonia, and Richard Hickox; 1989)
The Most Beautiful Christmas Songs (2013)

Larnelle Harris