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Sting says, “The theme of winter is rich in inspiration and material. By filtering all of these disparate styles into one album I hope we have created something refreshing and new.”

Tracks on the record, which will be released in October, include the ballad The Snow It Melts the Soonest, and a 14th century carol, Gabriel’s Message.

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“I am a real threat to cover ‘White Christmas’ this year,” the grizzled godfather of punk rock tells next month’s Relix magzine.

“I’m warning you now: I’m ready, cocked and loaded.” And there may be other standards coming from the 62-year-old Pop. “I’ve always wanted to beat up ‘Willow Weep for Me.’ [And] there’s ‘Only the Lonely’ — that’s the title track of my favorite Sinatra album,” he says.

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Here is the schedule:

November 2009
20 - Detroit, MI - Motor City Casino
21 - Waukegan, IL - Genesee Theater
22 - Prior Lake, MN - Mystic Lake Casino
23 - Wausau, WI - The Grand Theater
25 - Reading, PA - Sovereign PAC
27 - North Bethesda, MD - Music Center at Strathmore
28 - Atlantic City, NJ - Taj Mahal
29 - Glenside, PA - Keswick Theater
30 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom

December 2009
2 - New Brunswick, NJ - The State Theatre - Pre-sale tickets
3 - Easton, PA - State Theatre
4 - Ledyard, CT - Foxwoods Resort Casino
7 - Greenville, SC - Peace Center
9 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
11 - Tunica Resorts, MS - Bluesville Showroom
12 - Thackerville, OK - Winstar Casino - Showroom
14 - Albuquerque, NM - Isleta Casino Showroom
15 - Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theater
16 - Coachella, CA - Spotlight 29 Casino
18 - Universal City, CA - Gibson Amphitheater
20 - San Francisco, CA - Warfield
22 - Friant, CA - Table Mountain Casino
23 - Las Vegas, NV - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
26 - Santa Rosa, CA - Wells Fargo Center For the Arts
29 - Snoqualmie, WA - Snoqualmie Casino

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The album’s nine songs spotlight the Harlem-born singer’s signature mix of smooth vocals coupled with warm, supple groove. Sweat puts his unmistakable mark on the classic “The Christmas Song,” as well as “Under The Tree,” “Once A Year” and “It’s Christmas Again”—a trio of songs Sweat cowrote. With “Point Of Christmas,” the religious artist pays tribute to the “reason for the season.”

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Following the launch of the CD, Northern Light Orchestra kicks off it’s official annual Christmas touring season in October, establishing what many expect to quickly become a new Christmas tradition.

Ken Mary (former drummer House of Lords and Alice Cooper Band) says, “NLO takes Christmas music in a totally new direction. Although some will compare us to Transiberian Orchestra the difference in our styles and message is clear. We are band that play hard rock guitar virtuoso music that has been made famous on the multitudes of Guitar Hero games that have been sold. NLO is made up of true guitar heroes. George Lynch, Bill Levererty, Lanny Cordova Doug Aldridge, Jason Hook. There are true guitar heros that have contributed to NLO.”

Artists featured as part of the project include*:
Phil Bardowell (Beach Boy, Magdalen), Bob Carlisle (”Butterfly Kisses”), Eddie James (Gospel singer), Jon Gibson (Jon Gibson), Robin McAuley (Survivor), Debbie Sledge (Sister Sledge), Rose Stone (Sly and the Family Stone), Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake), Kendall Bechtel (Fifth Angel), Lanny Cordola (House Of Lords), Jason Hook (Alice Cooper, Mandy Moore), Bruce Kulick (KISS, Grandfunk Railroad), Bill Leverty (Firehouse), George Lynch (Dokken, Lynchmob), Elliot Randell (Steeley Dan), David Ellefson (Megadeth, F5), Chuck Wright (Quiet Riot, Vanilla Fudge), Ken Mary (Alice Cooper, House of Lords), Kip Winger (Winger, Alice Cooper), Dizzy Reed (Guns-n-Roses), Brian Stewart (Backstreet Boys, Poe).

With a lineup like that, Northern Light Orchestra, has lived up to it’s claim to provide “majestic, orchestrated rock music featuring soaring vocals, incredible guitar solos worthy of true ‘Guitar Hero’ status, and pounding rhythms sure to impress and invigorate the baby boomer generation that grew up on what is today classic rock.”

Dave Ellefson (former bass player founding member Megedeth) says, “I am grateful to be part of a project that requires skill determination and hard work to pull off. I am proud to be playing songs that have been well crafted with a true message concerning the Spirit of Christmas.”

Phillip Bartowell (former lead singer Beach Boys) says, “Being part of NLO after years of touring with the Beach Boys is truly a privilege. Making music with a true message of worldwide peace and love is something I have always wanted to do. NLO has stretched me like no other band I have been part of. I look forward to many successful years with this band.”

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The one lone standout this season comes from Amy Grant.

Grant’s Christmas collection hit stores earlier this fall as kind of a “greatest hits” compilation of her Christmas work. But thrown in for good measure were four new works, including a collaboration with husband Vince Gill.

I’ve always been of fan of Amy Grants smoky voice. Her range and earthy quality has never been better showcased than on a new track titled “I Need a Silent Night” (click here to listen).

All the great Amy Grant Christmas hits of the past are here — “Grown up Christmas List”, “Tennessee Christmas”, etc. And solid traditional orchestral-backed fare are here too — “Count Your Blessings” being added with this release.

And don’t miss “Baby, It’s Christmas” — a very Vince Gill-ish (sorry) tune bound for lots of airplay this Christmas. (Click here to listen).

From Grant’s early days as a breakout Christian pop artist we have watched her blossom as she has ventured into the fringes of jazz, contemporary, rock and country. This collection shows that off nicely.

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“My first thought was, ‘Man, I thought I sang all the songs there were to sing,’” he recalls. “But I put a list together and found out that there’s a whole lot more.”

Connick’s song wish list led to What a Night! A Christmas Album, his third holiday disc, which hits stores Tuesday. Fans can likely expect some of its songs to show up on the Ryman stage Dec. 14, when Connick brings his Holiday Celebration tour to town.

Night applies Connick’s trademark croon and big-band panache to holiday standards such as “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and “Holly Jolly Christmas,” but it also includes a first: a duet with his 11-year-old daughter, Kate, on “Winter Wonderland.”

“That was a really wild experience, to be in the studio with your kid,” Connick says. “It was something she really wanted to do, and she actually asked me if she could do it. I thought pretty hard about it, for lots of reasons. I have pretty high musical standards, and whether she’s my kid or not, I don’t want to put something out there that’s not worthy, you know? But she was extremely serious about it, and continues to work really hard, and she did great. I was really pleased.”

Recording songs like “Winter Wonderland” required a bit of imagination on Connick’s part, as the album was actually recorded in August.

“It’s funny, it’s like doing a scene in a movie,” Connick says. “You just kind of jump in there and imagine whatever you have to imagine.”

In audience’s imaginations, Connick’s become more and more associated with the holidays over the years, and that’s a connection Connick says he can live with.

“That’s fine with me. I’m proud of everything I do. Sometimes, people don’t even know I’m a musician. They think I’m Debra Messing’s husband on Will & Grace, and they have no idea that I’m a singer and piano player. That’s the way it is. If people think of me around Christmastime — I hear it a lot, and I’m so happy to hear it. People say, ‘We always put your Christmas album on.’ It’s just a nice feeling, and I’m honored by it.”

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“We’ve been fortunate enough to have a lot of career songs,” singer Gary LeVox said. “Those were pretty easy to put on there, and the others were songs that did well on the radio that just touched people’s lives.”

Songs on Greatest Hits Volume 1 include early favorites “Prayin’ for Daylight,” “I’m
Movin’ On” and “I Melt,” along with more recent career staples “Bless the Broken Road,” “What Hurts the Most” and “Life is a Highway.”

“There are some songs in the greatest hits package that we don’t even do live anymore that I had forgotten about,” bass player Jay DeMarcus said. “It makes me feel old. I guess every artist starts out wanting to get to the point where they can release a greatest hits record. Just to even be at a point where we’ve even achieved that goal is mind-boggling. I can’t believe that time has flown so quickly.”

Those who shop early will get a Christmas gift of sorts from Rascal Flatts because “White Christmas,” “Jingle Bell Rock” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” are included as an extra disc in the package for a limited time.

“It’s something unique to give back to the fans,” guitarist Joe Don Rooney said. “They’ve been so generous to us over the years.”

The group enlisted the help of Nashville String Machine and David Campbell on “White Christmas” and “Jingle Bell Rock,” which has a brassy big-band feel that Joe Don attributes to producer Dann Huff. Then members stripped everything away for a harmony-filled a cappella version of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” “I think it will tear you up,” says Joe Don of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas

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“Ring, Christmas Bells” will feature singer Brian Stokes Mitchell, actor Edward Herrmann and bell ringers from the community, including members of Bells on Temple Square.

The concerts will take place in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City from Dec.11 through Dec. 14.

Free tickets are distributed through a random selection process by phone and Internet starting this Saturday. 80,000 are expected to attended the concerts from the community.

Last year’s concert featured the UK’s “King Singers”, which was broadcast on PBS and is now available on DVD. This year’s concert will likewise be shown on PBS, though dates for that have not yet been announced.

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Featuring 11 tracks,Tony swings such classics as “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “WinterWonderland,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” and the CD introduces his daughter, Antonia, who duets with Tony on “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm.”

Phil Ramone, who has worked with Bennett on several of his recent outingsincluding the multi-platinum “Duets: An American Classic,” produced the CD. Danny Bennett, Tony’s son and manager, is Executive producer. The recording and mixing was handled by Bennett’s son, Dae Bennett, owner of Bennett Studios. The CD will be available everywhere on October 14 on RPMRecords/Columbia Records.

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The former “American Idol” contestant releases “A Royal Christmas” in October on CC Entertainment. The 20-year-old who now lives in Minneapolis says she’s also about to give birth to a daughter any day.

Bennett says she’s tried to put her own twist on traditional songs, such as “a lot of drums” on “The Little Drummer Boy” and big-band touches to “The 12 Days of Christmas.”

Bennett plans to bring her baby on the road with her in November. She says she’ll probably move back to Fayetteville, Georgia, after her baby is born.

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The album also features two duets, the first being the sentimental “Christmas Makes Me Cry” with Matthew West. The song explores the mix of emotions people experience during the holiday season in a mostly optimistic manner, as the singers talk of loved ones past and soldiers spending the holidays in danger overseas, causing them both to shed “tears of thankfulness, tears of hope / I cry tears of joy at Christmas because I know / there is peace on Earth for every heart to find / and sometimes Christmas makes me cry.” Mandisa and West work well as duet partners, and I’d love to hear them perform together more.

The other duet is with Christian music icon, Michael W. Smith, who performs “Christmas Day” with Mandisa. The song has a grand scope feel to it, like it could be sung over a Christmas movie finale, complete with a children’s choir on the chorus. It’s musically moving, but the actual lyrics aren’t particularly outstanding in rhyme or message.

Perhaps my favorite track of the entire album is the “Christmas Bell Medley,” as it contains within it my all-time favorite holiday tune, “Carol of the Bells.” However, the track first kicks off with “Silver Bells,” moving into “Carol of the Bells” at about the halfway point and then finishing with “Christmas Bells are Ringing.” The entire production has a very upscale jazzy feel to it, performed with a very Manhattan Transfer style by the backup singers.

The bulk of the album contains traditional songs — although I’d probably not list “Children Go Where I Send Thee” as a traditional Christmas song, despite it’s starting verse. This is a nice, old school R&B take on the spiritual, and you’ll want to wait until your disc quits spinning before pulling it out of the player because this album finale has a sneaky little silent spot on it before falling back into a serious church revival of a chorus.

“O Holy Night” has a bit of the smokey lounge act to it, offering a unique if not entirely divergent take on the classic. “Silent Night” is given the reverential treatment it deserves, performed over an orchestral arrangement that doesn’t stray from the familiar. “Little Drummer Boy” is also largely traditionally performed — until the drum majors take it over! This is one that sounds like you’d really like to see it performed live. And “Angels We Have Heard on High” is a nice, fresh arrangement — light yet soulful, set to a classical guitar and building to powerful improvisations before dropping back.

On the whole, It’s Christmas is a very good compilation, with a couple of outstanding performances — easily recommended as a new addition to your collection of holiday albums.

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“The job of spreading Christmas cheer has simply gotten too big for Santa and Rudolph to do alone,” Gill explained in a recent press release. “So Amy and I are pitching in. Besides, these holiday tours have become our favorites.”

The two hour program will feature cherished standards and newer seasonal fare with the Grammy-winning husband-and-wife team being backed by a 12-piece band that features a horn section and two harmony singers, one of whom is Gill’s daughter, Jenny.

“Some of our earlier Christmas tours were with a symphony orchestra,” Gill notes. “This time, though, we wanted to create more of an intimate, living room feel.”

Plans are underway to work with local charities in order to give back to these communities.

Amy Grant is also slated to release “The Christmas Collection,” her first new Christmas album in nine years on Sept. 30. The project is made up of selections from her three earlier Christmas CDs plus four new tunes, including “Baby It’s Christmas,” a song Grant and Gill wrote together. Look for Grant on the upcoming NBC-TV special, “Holiday Celebration On Ice” with Michael W. Smith and a corps of world-famous skating champions which will air Nov. 30.

Christmas With Amy & Vince Tour Dates:

Dec. 4 Manchester, NH/Verizon Wireless Arena

Dec. 5 Augusta, ME/Augusta Civic Center

Dec. 6 West Point, NY/Eisenhower Hall Theatre

Dec. 7 Mashantucket, CT/MGM Grand Theatre at Foxwoods

Dec. 10 Baltimore, MD/Lyric Opera House

Dec. 11 Albany, NY/Times Union Center

Dec. 12 Worcester, MA/DCU Center

Dec. 13 Elmira, NY/First Arena

Dec. 15 Atlanta, GA/Fox Theatre

Dec. 16 Charlotte, NC/Ovens Auditorium

Dec. 18 Grand Rapids, MI/Van Andel Arena

Dec. 19 St. Louis, MO/Scottrade Center

Dec. 20 Bloomington, IL/US Cellular Colliseum

Dec. 22 & 23 Nashville, TN/Ryman Auditorium

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“It was such a celebration,” she told The Tennessean, “that I really got activated.”

The can-do spirit she saw in the military families and their commitment to each other — and to hard work — is something Wynonna wants to impart to her kids, and that’s part of the motivation behind her taping on Oct. 6 of Holiday Notes From Home: A Christmas Tribute For The Troops. The free concert, being taped at the Grand Ole Opry House, will air on the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service during the holiday season.

Doing yuletide songs three weeks before Halloween arrives? Not a problem.

“You have to remember, I’ve been living in a fantasy world for 24 years,” she said. “I walked into a studio in June that was decorated for Christmas. It’s much like Ashley [Judd]’s acting. She told me, ‘Acting is living truthfully in imaginary circumstances.’ Whether it’s June or January, I’m so available, and you can access me pretty easily in terms of emotion, whether it’s a Christmas song or a Judds song.”

Wynonna’s mother and former duet partner, Naomi Judd, was on hand at the Alaska concert, where they met Governor Sarah Palin months before the Republican vice-presidential candidate made her way onto the national political stage. No word whether Naomi might make a surprise appearance at the Opry House.

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Among the seasonal classics included are “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “The First Noel,” “What Child Is This,” and “O Holy Night”, which were all newly recorded for this collection. The fifth song is “Do You Hear What I Hear,” which was featured on last year’s multi-artist compilation Hear Something Country Christmas.

Underwood’s latest hit, “Just A Dream,” is a Top 10 on the country charts.

Carnival Ride has already produced three consecutive Number One hits.

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The new age stars have both recorded holiday albums, which will hit stores in November.

Brightman’s A Winter Symphony features versions of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Happy Christmas (War is Over), Silent Night and In the Bleak Midwinter, while Enya’s And Winter Came also features Silent Night, sung in her native Gaelic.

Other stars releasing holiday albums this Christmas include Al Jarreau, Faith Hill, Aretha Franklin, Sheryl Crow and Tony Bennett.

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Songs featured on Christmas On The Pecos include “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”, “Winter Wonderland”, and “Three Wooden Crosses.”

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