For over 25 years Paul Winter has performed his Winter Solstice shows in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.

On Silver Solstice, he mixes recordings from their 2004 performance with the ghosts of Winter Solstices past. It's a captivating collection that travels from Irish laments to Armenian hymns, the rave-ups of the Russian Dmitri Pokrovsky Singers to the sounds of whales.

Redheart takes those same tired Christmas chestnuts and plays them anew on Native American flute, guitars and keyboards.

Vince Redhouse is the flute player, who occasionally switches off on a very sweet tenor saxophone. Along with keyboardist Abraham Marcor, they bring some light and shadow and a bit of desert austerity to these songs, and a serenity perfect for the season.

Philip Aaberg revisits his youth, growing up in Montana, singing hymns in the choir and walking the snow-shrouded winter landscapes to arrive at this serene solo piano CD.

Aaberg reinvents traditional Christmas carols with radical arrangements plus a handful of his own tunes for the season. It's the solo piano Christmas CD of the year.

You've never heard these carols performed so darkly, yet beautifully. Projekt Records gathered their gothic bands together on this collection and the results are startlingly atmospheric and resonant.

You won't forget Area's haunting take on "O Come Emmanuel," nor two different versions of "Carol of the Bells," Arcanta's Gregorian sonorities and This Ascension's joyful synthesizer laden refrains. Love Spirals Downward goes furthest afield with "Welcome Christmas" from How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It's a CD we wish we could play year round.

A holiday surprise from this firebrand jazz guitarist, known for his work in Chick Corea's Return to Forever and the guitar trio with Paco de Lucia and John McLaughlin. Here, DiMeola tones down and favors delicate melodies.

He's accompanied by the bandura, a Ukranian harp. The full bodied guitar melodies are counterpointed by delicate harp ornaments.

DiMeola mixes in traditional Christmas carols with original tunes and cover of Peter Gabriel's "Mercy Street."

Festival of Light 2 follows up and even improves on its precursor. It includes guitarist Danny Heines, and a surprisingly sensitive turn from saxophonist Dave Koz.

Continuo takes an electronica approach while Robin Holcomb and Wayne Horvitz create a hypnotic meditation on "Mah L'kha Hayam Variation." Other artists include They Might Be Giants, Frank London and Peter Himmelman.

This collection contains acoustic contemporary instrumental arrangements of favorite Christmas songs. Acoustic Eidolon is Hannah Alkire on cello and Joe Scott on guitjo, a guitar-banjo hybrid.


Hear Acoustic Eidolon in concert on Sonic Seasonings this year! 

This CD turns on classical themes. Cellist Joan Jeanrenaud teams up with guitarist Steve Erquiaga on an airy Handel piece and Paul McCandless adapts Orlando Gibbons' "The Silver Swan."

Keyboardist Tim Story unfolds a gorgeous chamber piece, "What Comes December." Tracy Silverman & Thea Suits turn in a wistful duet for electric violin & flute, and W.G. Snuffy Walden goes soft focus on "Moon Lake."

Windham Hill brings fresh life to some old chestnuts, rediscovering their original spirit from before they became shopping mall fodder.

There's Barbara Higbie's joyful Celtic reel on "In Dulci Jubilo." Tracy Silverman and Thea Suits reinvent "Silent Night" with delayed pizzicato violin and intertwining string & flute lines.

David Cullen arranges a serene guitar duet with Will Ackerman on "What Strangers Are These" and Jeff Johnson and Brian Dunning create a chamber arrangement for "Sussex Carol."