Christmas Bluegrass

Christmas music is a joyful sound at this time of year. I love listening to Christmas music during the holiday season. Although many artists perform the classic songs, I never get tired of hearing them because each artist spins the tune in their own unique styling making each rendition new again.

If you love Bluegrass and closely related root music, here is a list of some of the best Christmas music available by Bluegrass artists. Folks, if you are going to add to your Christmas music collection, you can't go wrong with any one of these selections. Enjoy!

1. Christmas on the Mountain: A Bluegrass Christmas – Various Artists
Nominated for 2004 Grammy for "Best Bluegrass Album.", this project features ten holidays tunes from top artists including Tim O'Brien, Mac Weisman, Del McCoury, Doc Watson, Cyndi Wheeler, and the Osborn Brothers. It is an eclectic but wonderful selection of tunes for the holidays.

2. Bluegrass Christmas Collection: Christmas Time's a Comin –Various Artists
Traditional Christmas collection from esteemed bluegrass artists such as Bill Monroe, Stanley Brothers, Reno & Smiley, Johnston Mountain Boys, Jimmy Martin and many more. You will find traditional songs like Rudolph, Jingle Bells, and White Christmas.

3. A Skaggs Family Christmas – Skaggs and White Family plus members of Kentucky Thunder
This project offers a good selection of Christmas standards performed by two musically venerated families from the country and bluegrass genres. While arguable not pure bluegrass, the project offers a selection of both traditional Christmas hymns, and original seasonal music in the Skaggs family tradition. You won't find another Christmas project with the quality of vocal harmonies that can only come from the melding of these two musically oriented families.

4. Beautiful Star: The Christmas Collection – Rhonda Vincent
You will be delighted when you put Rhonda's sparkling Christmas project into your Christmas rotation. Rhonda Vincent has become a Bluegrass darling and she hits the mark with this Christmas collection.

5. Christmas Album – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
This band's roots go back to the 1960, their acoustic sound is rooted deep into the Americana Folk Rock and are best know for Mr. Bogangles and the project know as Will the Circle Be Unbroken which placed the band squarely into the realm of Bluegrass. This Christmas CD is a treasure, especially with Alison Krauss joining in on a few of the tunes. This CD offers a mix of traditional with some original tunes that speak to today's times.

6. O Christmas Tree – Various Artists
This is a nice compilation of traditional Christmas tunes by some of the best Bluegrass artists on the circuit today including Rhonda Vincent, Tony Trishka, Bill Keith, The Johnston Mountain Band, James King Band and Alicia Nugent. Get ready for a sweet blending of bluegrass Christmas traditions..

7. Bluegrass & White Snow: A Mountain Christmas- Patty Loveless
This magical CD offers distinctive renditions of 10 traditional hymns plus adds three beautifully crafted tunes written by Patty and her husband, Emory Gordy Jr. The title track is an inspired tune with Patty's vocals being supported by Dolly Parton and Ricky Skaggs softly in the background. Other well chosen collaborators on this project include Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, and Trisha Yearwood plus others.

The editor has not been compensated monetarily or by the receipt of promotional copies of these projects.