Holiday season 2025 is here with all-new versions of all-old songs as well as new tunes that may (or may not) become holiday standards.

The Blackbyrds’ ‘City Life’ stands as a hallmark of ’70s jazz funk, blending smooth grooves, socially aware lyrics and impressive instrumentation.

Narada Michael Walden’s music and that of the artists he works with varies intriguingly from genre to genre. So do the albums that shaped his career.

Sylvester has enjoyed a surge in popularity in the decades after his death. ‘Live at the Opera House’ gives new listeners over two hours of reasons why.

The few who heard him described Sterling Harrison’s music as “deep soul,” with a voice that conjured up aural images of Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett.

This posthumously released live version of “Body Strong” is yet another reminder of what a force Sylvester was – and the impact he still has.

Jharis Yokley joined Preston Frazier to discuss his new album ‘Sometimes, Late at Night,’ featuring musical collaborations with BIGYUKI.

This album will always be defined by its lead-off moment, as the Temptations take a kid’s song and transform it into a funked-out Yuletide hoot.

Ross Boissoneau digs into new seasonal sounds from Gregory Porter, Samara Joy, John Paul McGee, Kings Return and others.

Cheryl Pawelski spent 17 years saving great music from irretrievable oblivion for ‘Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos.’ It was time well spent.