HEIDI GRANT MURPHY, SOPRANO, KEVIN MURPHY, PIANO, RICHARD AULDON CLARK, VIOLIN AND VIOLA; "The Gifts of Christmas" (Koch International Classics)

The majority of the arrangements on this album are quasi-new age minimalist, and as such the music tends to sound too homogeneous. But the effect is mellow and sweet and appealing. And to her credit, Heidi Grant Murphy pulls it off convincingly. She has a beautiful soprano voice, and she certainly doesn't oversing any of these pieces. The 17 tracks range from "The First Noel" and "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" to songs by Max Reger and Hugo Wolf. There are also a couple of delightful songs by John Rutter ("Mary's Lullaby" and Shepherd's Pipe Carol"). This album is definitely worth adding to your holiday collection. — E.R.

THE BRETT RAYMOND IMITATION JAZZ TRIO; "Mini Christmas Album" (Brett Raymond Music)

Mr. Cool meets Mr. Claus on this mini album introducing the Brett Raymond Imitation Jazz Trio. With husky-voice Raymond doing the vocals and keyboards, and with Todd Sorensen on the drums and Eric Wallengren on the bass guitar, the trio delivers an energetic and lively look at the holidays that is overlaced with a smoooooth, laid-back mentality. Two new songs, written by Raymond, offer messages for our times: "Feels Like Christmas Time" and "Christmas in L.A." The other three cuts are remastered titles off Raymond's "Primarily For Christmas" CD: "Jolly Old St. Nicholas," "Up On the Housetop," and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." The mini-CD is a "sort of souvenir" of the Odyssey Dance Theatre's "Joy to the World" concert that Raymond is a part of each year. You can only hope there'll be a full-lenth CD by the trio sometime in the future. — C.W.

RUGRATS; "Holiday Classics" (Nick Records)

They have their own TV show, a movie and now a Christmas album. To call the songs classics might be stretching it a bit — the tunes are mostly familiar, but the words are all new. In keeping with the characters, they sing of "Tommy's Silent Night," and all the toys they want, and how Santa got stuck in the chimney. There are also a couple of Chanukah songs. Fans (especially the kids) will get a kick out of it, but a little of the squeaky brattiness can go a long way. — C.W.

JON SCHMIDT; "Winter Serenade" (JS Productions)