A very playable collection of Christmas songs from vocalist Chris Ruggiero features a full complement of stellar instrumental accompaniment and arrangements by Charles Calello and Christian Tamburr. Ruggiero’s strong, sturdy, smooth tenor voice covers each song with a different feeling. While clearly adult contemporary pop, there are flavorings of vintage jazz, rock and roll, R&B and soul. I never tire of standards like “Sleigh Ride,” “The Christmas Song,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” and “Silent Night.” Eight tracks feature big band sounds with a grooving horn section, including “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” with a splendid solo by trumpet-player Wayne Bergeron. Some songs subjected to leaner arrangements provide a nice variety for easy listening.

Chris Ruggiero seems most comfortable with the medium pop ballad like the 1970 hit “This Christmas,” but I think “yule” also enjoy his take on slower and more up-tempo material. Sung in a duet sung with Darlene Love, “Grown-up Christmas List” presents a lifelong wish for a world in need. “No more lives torn apart, and wars would never start, And time would heal all hearts. And everyone would have a friend, and right would always win, And love would never end.” These sentiments, along with those that revel in praise and true meaning of the holiday, make this Christmas album one of the best pop offerings on this side of the North Pole in 2022 with its creative, bright, breezy, and easy to listen to music. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)