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Holiday Music NPR presents a mix of live concerts and other music to help get you in the spirit of the season.
The Beatles on a toboggan in Austria in 1965.
Special Series

Holiday Music

NPR presents a mix of live concerts and other music to help get you in the spirit of the season.
An 'Alt.Latino' Christmas

A Nicaraguan Christmas tree in Managua. Miguel Alvarez hide caption

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Miguel Alvarez

Alt.Latino

An 'Alt.Latino' Christmas

Alt.Latino hosts Felix Contreras and Jasmine Garsd join Weekend Edition Saturday's Scott Simon to discuss modern interpretations of traditional Latin holiday music.

An 'Alt.Latino' Christmas

Listen · 8:25
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Swinging Christmas Music From Rebecca Kilgore And Pals

Rebecca Kilgore is one of America's leading song stylists. courtesy of the artist hide caption

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courtesy of the artist

Swinging Christmas Music From Rebecca Kilgore And Pals

Fresh Air

In time for the holidays, Fresh Air presents an in-studio concert. Singer Rebecca Kilgore, trombonist Dan Barrett and pianist Rossano Sportiello played at the NOLA studios in Manhattan.

Swinging Christmas Music From Rebecca Kilgore And Pals

Listen · 47:14
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Piano Jazz Presents: Holiday Memories With Michael Feinstein

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Randee St. Nicholas/Concord Music Group

Piano Jazz Presents: Holiday Memories With Michael Feinstein

Hear a special episode of Piano Jazz with holiday favorites and surprises never heard on the program before. The pianist and singer Michael Feinstein, a consummate performer of the Great American Songbook, guest-hosts and plays a few numbers himself.

Piano Jazz Presents: Holiday Memories With Michael Feinstein

Listen · 57:51
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Music Icon Annie Lennox Belts Songs Of Christmas Love

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courtesy of the artist

Music Icon Annie Lennox Belts Songs Of Christmas Love

The legendary Annie Lennox is out with her first ever holiday album that has the critics raving - Christmas Cornucopia. Host Michel Martin speaks with Lennox about her music, her humanitarian work and her drive in life.

Music Icon Annie Lennox Belts Songs Of Christmas Love

Listen · 17:50
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All Songs Considered Holiday Music Special

All Songs Considered

All Songs Considered Holiday Music Special

Hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton share some of the tunes that get them in the mood for warm cookies, hot cocoa, and Santa Claus. Grab a blanket and curl up in front of the computer.

All Songs Considered Holiday Music Special 2010

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Regifting Some Gems From Holidays Long Past

Some songs are played every year, but others languish unsung. iStock hide caption

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iStock

Review

Regifting Some Gems From Holidays Long Past

Why not listen to some holiday music few have heard in a while? Try an offering from the father of American choral music, or even folk music dating to the Middle Ages.

Regifting Some Gems From Holidays Long Past

Listen · 3:55
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Ken Tucker Picks The Best Holiday Music Of 2010

Tegan and Sara celebrate Christmas in 1985. The sisters are featured on a new holiday album, Gift Wrapped II: Snowed In. Courtesy of Tegan and Sara hide caption

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Courtesy of Tegan and Sara

Review

Ken Tucker Picks The Best Holiday Music Of 2010

Fresh Air

Every holiday season brings a new batch of seasonal pop music, some of it from unlikely or obscure sources. Rock critic Ken Tucker has listened to most of the new holiday collections released this year, and has chosen three albums that ought to make your season a bit more festive.

Ken Tucker Picks The Best Holiday Music Of 2010

Listen · 8:33
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A Paul Winter Solstice Concert 2010

Basis Eliot Wadopian performs at the Winter Solstice Celebration. Murray Street Productions hide caption

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Murray Street Productions

A Paul Winter Solstice Concert 2010

Saxophonist Paul Winter celebrates the longest night of the year with his annual Winter Solstice Celebration. Hear the show and watch interviews with Winter on how he makes his music.

A Paul Winter Solstice Concert 2010

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A Jazz Piano Christmas

L-R: Helio Alves, Renee Rosnes, Kenny Barron, Freddy Cole. Margot I. Schulman hide caption

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Margot I. Schulman

A Jazz Piano Christmas

Live from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., it's NPR Music's annual celebration of seasonal music in swing time. A public radio holiday tradition returns with Kenny Barron, Renee Rosnes, Helio Alves and Freddy Cole.

A Jazz Piano Christmas 2010

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A Carolina Christmas, With Kathy Mattea
Wiley Stewart

A Carolina Christmas, With Kathy Mattea

Direct from the largest room in the largest private home in the country, WDAV and NPR present A Carolina Christmas from Biltmore Estate, with Kathy Mattea — a new special featuring classic and contemporary holiday songs.

A Carolina Christmas, With Kathy Mattea

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Annoying Music For Christmas

This year's Christmas in the Heart has fans of both Christmas music and Bob Dylan scratching their heads. hide caption

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Annoying Music For Christmas

Just in time for Christmas, Jim Nayder — host of The Annoying Music Show! — offers even more holiday tunes that are sure to curdle your eggnog.

Annoying Music For Christmas

Listen · 6:47
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Swing Into The Holidays On Piano Jazz
bigsnit via Flickr

Swing Into The Holidays On Piano Jazz

Marian McPartland and her guests from seasons past share their favorite memories when they're not performing Christmas classics and original holiday tunes. Guest artists include George Shearing, Tony DeSare, Renee Fleming, Cleo Brown and Dena DeRose.

Piano Jazz Christmas Special 2009

Listen · 57:29
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Twenty Years Of A Jazz Piano Christmas

Billy Taylor (left) duets with Eldar at A Jazz Piano Christmas 2009. Margot Schulman hide caption

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Margot Schulman

Twenty Years Of A Jazz Piano Christmas

An NPR holiday tradition celebrates two decades this winter. Jazz pianists Eldar, Robert Glasper, Patricia Barber, Joe Sample, Ramsey Lewis and Dr. Billy Taylor were all on hand to perform original takes on classic holiday songs, live in concert.

Listen Now: A Jazz Piano Christmas 2009

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