This is my favorite recording/performance of Christmas music. Period. Hands down. No doubt. Head and shoulders above all the rest.

Better than “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” by the Dexter Gordon Quartet. Better than John Fahey’s “Medley: Hark, The Herald Angels Sing/O Come All Ye Faithful.” Better than “Must Be Santa (Polka)” by Brave Combo.

Back in 2006, there was a TV show called “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” on NBC. The series, by writer & director Aaron Sorkin, was about the goings on behind the scenes of a Saturday Night Live type of show. On Decmber 4, Episode #11 aired. It was “The Christmas Show.”

A group of displaced New Orleans musicians performed on the show-within-the-show. They were introduced as “The City of New Orleans.”

This is what they played.

“Oh Holy Night” by The City of New Orleans Brass

It takes 4:11 and is worth every second. Headphones recommended.

Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years to you and yours.