Cool Yule (CD - 2006)

Personnel: Bette Midler (vocals); Deantoni Parks (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Doug Livingston (steel guitar); Randy Waldman (keyboards); Dave Carpenter (upright bass); Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Bashiri Johnson (percussion); Fonzi Thornton (background vocals).

It seems odd that Bette Midler didn't release her first Christmas album until 2006, but COOL YULE proves worth the wait. A solid collection of seasonal favorites, the album features Midler in typically excellent voice backed with a kicky jazz combo and orchestra. Along with the usual standards, Midler dips into more personal waters, recalling her own Hawaiian childhood with the traditional island tune "Mele Kalikimaka" and performing a tongue-in-cheek rewrite of her previous hit "From A Distance." A duet with Johnny Mathis on a medley of Yuletide favorites is equally endearing. minimize