Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell - How Long Has That Evening Train Been Gone?: Vol. 1, 1928-1934 - $29.99
(cdRoots# sst-jsp7104)
4 CDs with 95 tracks of early citified blues from this popular piano/guitar duo: "How Long, How Long Blues," "Naptown Blues," "Christmas in Jail," "Papa's on the House Top," "Midnight Hour Blues," "Mean Mistreater Mama," and much more. Essential listening

Jord - Mailmale - $17.99
(cdRoots# cda-jord05)
This quartet from Tornadalen, Sweden presents their second recording (2005) of newly-composed folk songs from the tradition, performed on accordion, acoustic bass, guitar, flutes, percussion, and harp, with both solo and group vocals

Sagskara - Apelgra - $temp out of stock-17.99
(cdRoots# cda-sagskara)
Traditional Christmas songs and tunes from Sweden

WinterSongs - Northside - $Triakel
(cdRoots# ns-606112.99)

Aage Kvalbein and Iver Kleive - Julemeditasjoner (Christmas meditations) - $18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-328)
Two Norwegian musicians on piano and cello express the tranquil moods of Christmas. With their extensive experience of interpreting traditional musical material and with a touch of irreverence, these open-minded musicians have toyed with familiar Christmas songs, inserting a classical piece by Vivaldi here and another by Schubert there, to create a mix of well-loved Christmas songs.

Det Norske Jentekor - Julens hjerte (The heart of Christmas) - $18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-327)
For Christmas the Norwegian Girls Choir presents Yuletide songs in arrangements by Henning Sommerro. The record also features the Cikada string quartet and Kari Bremnes on two tracks and Lise Sørensen on violin. Anne Karin Sundal is the choir conductor. The songs on the new record have mostly been selected from traditional songs that are part of Christmas, given fresh new arrangements that still hold close to the simplicity of the old folk songs.

Carola - I natt blir värden ny - Jul i Betlehem II - $18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-326)
The norwegian vocalist presents a second collection of old and new Christmas songs in the Holy Nativity Church in Bethlehem, bringing moods and sounds from the region of the world where Christ was born. Her second visit to the city of David has inspired her to new interpretations of famous Christmas songs, featuring the musical expression of Bethlehem. Carola wonderful voice is complemented by musicians from Norway, Sweden and the Middle East.

Cororchestra Cantarchevai - Nadàl Encara - $17.99
(cdRoots# fce-cornadal)
A collection of Christmas carols from Italy and elsewhere, performed in a unique, sparse, modern folk style, an almost neo-field-recording atmosphere.

Iver Kleive - Hyrdenes tilbedelse - $19.99
(cdRoots# kkv-287)

Helene Blum - En Sød Og Liflig Klang - $16.99
(cdRoots# go-blum06)
Folk and modern interpretations of Jule music old and new by the Danish singer, accompanied by Harald Haugaard (who also produced the recordings), with Ditte Fromseier, Harald Haugaard, Kirstine Elise Pedersen, lea Havelund, Mikkel Bøggild, Sune Hånsbæk, Torben Sminge, Hans Mydtskov, Karen Mose, Jullie Hjetland, Kristian Stærke on violins, cello, guitar and vocals. One of the best Christmas recordings I have heard in a while. Highly recommended.

Vintermane - Sode Julenatt - $17.99
(cdRoots# kkv-vinter1)
The eminent Vintermåne trio, featuring vocals, piano and saxophone, delivers the real Christmas spirit with folk tunes from Telemark and a poetic jazz-inspired accompaniment on Søde Julenatt

Waterson:Carthy - Holy Heathens and The Old Green Man - $19.99
(cdRoots# topic-562)
In 1965 The Watersons released the landmark album Frost and Fire - A Calendar of Ritual Magical Songs. This new recording returns to the themes, with resonant ensemble singing bolstered by The Devil’s Interval, a young and exciting new vocal trio of Lauren McCormick, Emily Portman and Jim Causely, and accompanied by guitar, fiddle, mandolin, brass and percussion. Superb!

Kari Bremnes and Rikard Wolff - Desemberbarn - $18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-247)
December's Children' offers a glitter free, unvarnished and poetic Christmas recording by the Norwegian singer and the Swedish singer/actor in a mix of old and new Christmas and winter songs. In addition to well known Norwegian and Swedish Christmas songs, Kari and Rikard have created some new material that will add to our Christmas and winter tradition, for a Christmas based on tradition but living in a new millennium. Their work with the album expresses a collective longing for unity in our present world of insecurity.

Oslo Gospel Choir - Det Skjedde i de dager - $18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-259)
The spirit of Norwegian Christmas - Princess Martha Louise reads the Christmas story in Norwegian. Songs are performed by the choir and guest vocalist Sigvart Dagsland, and include Stille Natt, Det Hev Ei Rose Sprunge, Dailig Eg Jorden, Hellige Natt and more.

Schola Sanctae Sunnivae and Hartkeriana - Officium et Missae in Nativitate Sancti Ioannis Baptistae - $24.99
(cdRoots# kkv-306)
A female choir from Trondheim, Norway and a male choir from Amsterdam presnt works inspired by a thousand years of church music traditions. These internationally recognized choirs have recorded a St. John's officium, a collection of a full days masses and hourly prayers on a double CD set, with music both for midsummer and the nativity. Music in the gregorian tradition, marvelously recorded (as all KKV recordings are), with great spacial presence and accuracy.

Skruk and Rim Banna - Krybberom - $17.99
(cdRoots# kkv-krybberom)
The Norwegian art ensemble Skruk and singer Rim Banna from Nazareth join together to create a powerful recording, interpreting traditional songs from both cultures about the Nativity, centered on themes of homelessness and peace

Skruk - Stjerna fra øst (Star of the East) - $17.99
(cdRoots# kkv-star)
With the Moscow Balalaika Quartet, Torunn Sævik and Geirr Lystrup. An original set of songs for Christmas, based on Russian traditions, and performed by a small ensemble of instrumentalists, a balalaika quartet, solo singers and large chorus.

Iver Kleive - Juleevangeliet - $18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-207)

Ambrogio Sparagna - Fermarono i Cieli - $17.99
(cdRoots# rd-ft37)
In the middle of the 18th century Alfonso Maria de' Liguori and his Redemptorist priests introduced hymns both in the local dialect and in Italian, based on popular songs, to teach the basics of Christianity. Many of the songs were related to Christmas-tide celebrations, as well as lullabies, pastorales for the zampogna (Italian bag-pipes), alms-seeking chants, and others. Sparagna preserves the original spirit of these traditional folk prayers with Peppe Servillo and a female vocal quintet, accompanied by the eclectic instrumentalist Erasmo Treglia and an trio featuring a giant zampogna (bagpipe), along with harmonium, tamburelli, organetto (accordion), ciaramella, ghironda, oboe barocco, violino and more.

Eileen Ivers - An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas - $16.99
(cdRoots# sst-ivers07)
The Irish fiddler presents 11 tracks of traditional carols and dance tunes along with classic hpoliday chestnuts, performed with her band, Immigrant Soul.

Magpie Lane - Knock at the Knocker, Ring at the Bell - $17.99
(cdRoots# hojo-knock)
As in theor previous holiday recording, Wassail! A Country Christmas (1995), this CD features traditional carols, along with secular songs and dance tunes appropriate for Christmas and the Winter season. Many of the carols were collected from rural singers roughly one hundred years ago; the songs themselves were even then somewhat archaic, and had been left behind by changing popular taste. However some of the songs here, although they date back a couple of centuries, are still sung today, as part of vigorous community carolling traditions.

Various Galician Artsists - Cantigas de Nadal - $17.99
(cdRoots# boa-nadal)
11 tracks of traditional Galician songs of the Christmas season by 11 bands and artists on the current Galician folk scene: Berrogüetto, Leilia, Pancho Alvarez, Na Lua, Os Cempes, Maite Dono, Uxia, Chouteria, Muxicas, Xistra de Coruxo and A Quenlla.

Italian Treasury / Lomax Collection - Abruzzo - $17.99
(cdRoots# roun-1811)
Love begins with fine singing, says a line from a song from Abruzzo, a mountainous region of independent people in south-central Italy. Choral songs, a shepherd's leave-taking, holiday and alms-seeking rites, songs for work and courtship, lullabies, a nonsense incantation, funeral laments, narrative ballads, and dance music vividly evoke a vanishing rural life when everyday activity was accompanied by song.

Various (Lomax) - Songs of Christmas - $17.99
(cdRoots# roun-1719)
Songs of Christmas, From the Alan Lomax Collection, recorded in Britain, Ireland, Italy, Spain, the Southern U.S. and the Caribbean between 1950 to 1964. English Mummers, Italian bagpipes, lullabies, carols, and stories express the unquenchable fun, faith, and good times of Christmas and the immemorial good-luck rituals of the New Year. With Bob and Ron Copper, Ewan MacColl, Seamus Ennis, Vera Ward Hall, the Alabama Sacred Harp singers, the Georgia Sea Island Singers, the Putipu Band of Capri, Norman Edmonds, the Symondsbury Mummers and many, many more. Containing 31 tracks in all, the album comes with extensive liner notes and photographs and complete song and dialect translations from the Spanish, Italian, Latin and Irish.

various - Midwinter - $54.99
(cdRoots# frq-30)
A Celebration Of The Folk Music And Traditions Of Christmas and The Turning Of The Year - Another Free Reed Records box set extravaganza: 4 CDs in a longbox, over 155 rare, unreleased and newly-recorded tracks from a mighty roster of the world's great names of folk and folk-rock from Europs and America, with a 136 page book. Includes Phil Tanner, Robert Frost (himself!), John Fahey, various Albions, Watersons and Carthys, Ledbelly, Ian Campbell, Richard Thompson, etc etc.

Nina Ramsby and Martin Hederos - Jazzen - $16.99
(cdRoots# amigo-jazzen)
Singer Nina Ramsby and pianist Martin Hederos first met in 2000 and began singing casually together. In January 2004 recorded Visorna, a collection of their favorite songs in Swedish. In the spring of 2005 they began work on this new recording, Jazzen, featuring their own unique takes on jazz standards by notable jazz performers like Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Sade and Betty Carter. Nina has rewritten the lyrics in Swedish, to suit her own needs and experiences. These are bare, sometimes stark performances, mostly simply piano and voice, with occasional string, harmonica, reed and brass punctuations that envelope the voice and allow it room to expand and contract as it needs. They also have 2 original pieces (one song, one instrumental), which to my ear, are some of the best pieces on the CD.

Aquabella - Kykellia - $17.99
(cdRoots# jaro-kyk)
Their worldwide hunt for winter and Christmas songs took this female vocal quartet from Germany to Bulgaria, Spain, Ireland, Latvia, France, Norway, Georgia, Russia, Israel, New Zealand, Argentina and North America. The 19 songs on this collection epitomize the joy and solemnity so many cultures ascribe to the Nativity and the darkness of winter. Songs are performed a capella or with minimal percussion accompaniment.

Henning Andersen with Marit Mattisgard - Underlege makter - $17.99
(cdRoots# talik-24)
The songs of the church bells of Valdres, Norway, performed by this duo on voices, fiddles, jews harp, folk flutes, zithers and of course, the bells of Valdres themselves. The artists say: "The bells ring: From time immemorial the church bells have rung in to festival and feat, to sorrow and joy. For people here in Norway the church bells have been a sound and safe landmark for over a thousand years. Over the years they have served various purposes but primarily have been God’s voice here on earth. They have summoned the congregation to church service, baptisms, confirmations, weddings and funerals. Gradually they gained other duties than the sacral as they were used to warn of war and mobilisation, accidents and catastrophes. The bells marked the passing hours, the start and end of the working day and the commencement of church holidays when tired bodies could rest."

Various artists - Christmas Around The World - $8.99
(cdRoots# putu-xmas)
A collection of music from around the world specifically for Christmas. 12 tracks compiled for 2003 include Steve Schuch and the Night Heron Consort, Liuba Maria Hevia, Michael Doucet, Sheryl Cormier, Los Reyes, Dan Crary, Kali , Ramon F.Veloz and more.

Baraban - La Santa Notte Dell'oriente - $17.99
(cdRoots# rd-baraban2)
Christmas songs and melodies by the quintet Barabàn from Milan. From Christmas Eve to Epiphany, eleven tracks show vocal or intrumental tunes, rhymes and sounds: from traditional rites of Northern Italy from the Po Valley, songs usually performed in the cowsheds during the watches of the night, pastorelle played in the foggy nights around Milan, pive from the repertoire of travelling musicians, Christmas carols from Venetia and Friuli, begging songs of Romagna, Gregorian airs, songs performed during a traditional theatrical piece called Gelindo, the Stella repertoire from Lombard mountains, sounds and noises of Befania rite. La Santa Notte dell'Oriente is not, however, a pure nostalgic disc. Far from any ethnic revival, the band plies a contempory musical course mixing bagpipes, fiddles and melodeons with a range of Mediterranean and Eastern percussions.

Marina Rossell - Nadal - $17.99
(cdRoots# hm-rossell05)
Music for the Christmas holiday from one of the great voices of Catalan Spain.

Ivan Smirnov and Mikhail Smirnov - Crimean Holiday - $15.99
(cdRoots# sketis-crimea)
The respected Russian guitarist (Ivan) is joined by percussion, keyboard and accordion player (Mickhail) and a small ensemble of guitars, percussion, horns, reeds and whistles.

various - Musica e canti popolari del Salento - $17.99
(cdRoots# ara-04)
2 CD set presents music and folksongs from Salento, Italy. originally published on LP’s in the 1970’s by the scholar Brizio Montinaro, this collection includes pizziche, stornelli, Christmas and Easter songs, funeral laments, lullabies, invocations, work songs, nursery rhymes, canti alla stisa, polyphonic singing and much more in 31 tracks on 2 CDs

Paul Hillier et al - Traditional and Modern Carols - $9.99
(cdRoots# hm-carols)
The Pro Arte Singers, Indiana University Children’s Chamber Choir. Paul Hillier, Director. A variety of carols drawn from both sides of the Atlantic, in a program of early English favorites, Shaker and shape-note carols, and 20th-century gems.

The York Waits - Yule Riding - $17.99
(cdRoots# hojo-yorkyule)
A celebration of a traditional holiday from York, England in the years before 1570. With instruments that include shawms, sackbut, recorders, flute, harp, lute, guitar, cittern and hurdy gurdy gurdy the album also features the glorious vocals of soprano Deborah Catterall.

various - Messiah: Remix - $17.99
(cdRoots# hm-remessiah)
One of the irresistible chestnuts of classical music gets a radical overhaul by some of the contemporary music scene's leading provacatuers. Handel's 1742 warhorse gets mashed into electronica, modernist mania, moody ambience, rough-hewn hip-hop and uninhibited nuttiness by artists like John Oswald, Scanner, Paul Lansky and Eve Beglarian.

Anonymous 4 - Christmas Music from Medieval Hungary - $11.99
(cdRoots# hm-hungxmas)
The famous female vocal quartet offers unusual holiday music.

Le Picotage - Noel nouveau est venu (ES5311 - $17.99
(cdRoots# fce-picotage)
Christmas songs and tunes from the Centre of France, played on hurdy gurdy, bagpipes, keyboards, plus a fantastic female voice. The Christmas Carols were chosen among the dozen of popular songs that are particulary abundant in the Centre of France: some of these songs are still sung in certain churches in the Limousin region. The legendary complex to which the lyrics make reference are taken mainly from the Apocryphal Evangiles.

Darko Rundek and Cargo Orkestar - Ruke - $17.99
(cdRoots# hm-pir1894)
Darko Rundek, singer, poet, actor, theatre director and frontman of the late Yugo-cult band Haustor, took a holiday from his solo-career for the adventures of a real Cargo Orkestar. The comédie des sens of Paris meet the European spleen of Zagreb, cosmopolitan influences of immigration clash with Balkan traditions. Join the Cargo Orkestar for a mysterious musical journey, rough and real, made of questioning, pain, joy and humour. Listen

various artists, Italy - I Doli Du Signuri - $18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica10)
The sorrows of the Lord - As with Christmas, the Passion and Death of Christ have long stimulated the popular musical creativity in various compositions. The album presents research documents from the provinces of Messina, Enna, and Catania: monovocal and polivocal songs from the rituals of Holy Week in Sicily. The Passion, the Stations of the Cross, and Resurrection, through the liturgical songs and the traditional religious culture. Recordings from 1979 to 1992.

Various Artists - A Cantata Di Li Pasturi - $18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica8)
Vocal and instrumental pieces from the Christmas tradition in the province of Messina, with an wide and varied panorama of monovocal and polivocal pieces (ninne nanne, litanie, novene ) and instrumental pieces (pastorali with bag pipes). The collection demonstrates the profound roots of the rich culture of Christmas in the popular religious traditions. Recordings from 1984 to 1993.

Katia Cardenal - Ven a mi casa esta navidad - $18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-card-navi)
The Nicaraguan singer presents the songsof Christmas she remembers from her home. Classics from Europe are intermingled with songs local to Nicaragua, Bolivia and elsewhere in the southern Americas. Recorded with Cuban musicians including guitarist Rey Guerra.

Frode Alnæs, Arild Andersen, Stian Carstensen - Julegløggen - $17.99
(cdRoots# kkv-jule)
OK, some things I just can't resist. Norwegian musicians Frode Alnæs (guitar), Arild Andersen (bass) and Stian Carstensen (banjo and accordion) join together to give a jazzy yet Nordic touch to some Norwegian folk songs and some global holiday classics, traditional and popular.

Sinikka Langeland - Andreas Liebig - Stjerneklang - $17.99
(cdRoots# grcd-stjern)
Sinikka Langeland sings folk songs and improvises with Andreas Liebig, who performs on the historic Wagner-organ (1741) in Nidaros Cathedral, in Trondhjem, Norway. They present Bach's organ chorales for Christmas in a unique and passionate way.

various Italian artists - Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle - $temp out of stock-17.99
(cdRoots# matson-stelle)
Descending from the starry skies presents the music of the nativity, culled from 78rpm discs recorded between 1916 and 1955. It includes small ensembles and solo performances for voice, fiddle, bagpipes, zampogna and ciaramelle, accordion and more. 25 tracks, with extensive liner notes in Italian only.

Carlo Muratori - Stidda di l'Orienti - $temp out of stock
(cdRoots# carlo-stidda)
I canti e le musiche dei riti della Settimana Santa in Sicilia. - Christmas songs of Sicily by one of Sicily's most respected songers and songwriters, beautifully performed. This new edition comes with a separate song book with lyrics and musical notation.

various - Il Natale nella tradizione siciliana - $temp out of stock-17.99
(cdRoots# matson-natale)
Il Natale nella tradizione siciliana - Messina e la sua Provincia starts with a slow beautiful zampogna a para (bagpipe) solo and then moves through 31 tracks of Sicilian stories and music for Christmas and the nativity. Real folks songs and folk stories told by local, non-professional musicians for the most part. Includes notation for some of the music, notes are in Italian.

various Latvian artists - Kalado - $temp out of stock
(cdRoots# upe-kalado)
The Latvian Christmas - solstice songs from all over Latvia performed by five leading and most active folk music ensembles Auri, Grodi, Ilgi, Rasa, Skandenieki are included in the album. Christian Christmas songs that are quite and sedate contrast with Latvian winter solstice songs are lively and joyful to celebrate the winter solstice eve, when the Day always defeats the Night.

Various artists - Jul i Folkton - $temp out of stock-17.99
(cdRoots# amigo-jul)
Music for the Juletide, in a recording that includes artists like Sofia Karlsson, Sara Isaksson, Ale Möller, Lisa Rydberg, Lena Willemark, Esbjorn Hazelius, Roger Tallroth, Louise Hoffsten and Rebecka Tornqvist, is probably worth listening to any time of the year. Together they form a Nordic "supergroup" worthy of your attention, even on the hottest summer day!

Ensemble del Doppio Bordone - La notte di Natale (ES5303 - $temp out of stock-17.99
(cdRoots# fce-doppio)
With its blend of ancient instruments from peasant culture (bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy, flutes) and of cultured origin (fiddle, cello and harmonium), during last ten years this band performed all over Europe, obtaining a vast positive response both from audience and critics. In December 1995, the Ensemble represented Italy in the program Comete, co-produced by various national broadcasting companies of EU, Eastern Europe and North-American countries. Its repertoire varies from alms-collecting chants, dances played during harvest time, carnival music and Christmas carols, songs sung in May and melodies of Passion.

The Oxford Waits with The Mellstock Band - Hey for Christmas - $temp out of stock-17.99
(cdRoots# hojo-hey)
Seasonal songs and carols from the Bodleian Library's Broadside Ballad collections

Magpie Lane - Wassail! A Country Christmas - $temp out of stock-18.99
(cdRoots# hojo-wassail)
A collection of songs and tunes which were originally performed in the band's hugely popular Christmas concerts at the Holywell Music Room, Oxford.

Sondre Bratland - Rosa Fra Bethlehem - $temp out of stock-18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-121)
Songs for Christmas sung by the great Norwegian artist, beautifully recorded at the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, and accompanied by Knut Reiersrud, Iver Kleive and Paolo Vinaccia.

The Bulgarian Voices Angelite - Angels' Christmas - $temp out of stock-17.99
(cdRoots# jaro-angelx)
The famous Bulgarian choir explores the Nativity as heard in Bulgaria and eastern Europe.