Various Artists

STONY PLAIN'S CHRISTMAS BLUES

(Stony Plain)

Although too many musicians to count have gone wrong trying to create a new tidbit of Christmas cheer, most of the blues people on this compilation get it right. Tasty guitar man Duke Robillard guides several cuts, including a delightful bop/swing tour of familiar Christmas themes on the opening instrumental track. After that hipster's nod to tradition, the folks on Stony Plain's blues and folk roster pretty much create their own holiday legends. Growler and howler Sonny Rhodes, who also plays the one-of-a-kind Hawaiian lap steel guitar, updates Dickens with a fine poor-children's urban fable, "Christmas 9-1-1." The late legend Jimmy Witherspoon, backed by Robillard's band, is caught delivering one of his infinitely sad slow blues with a holiday twist. Famed Chicago harmonica man Billy Boy Arnold's voice may have less range than a remote-control race car, but he sounds pretty tough on his "Christmas Time Part 1." Other performers include Jay McShann, the Kansas City pianist and bandleader who gave Witherspoon (and Charlie Parker) his start; Rosco Gordon, who has recently returned to recording decades after his hits for the likes of Sun and Duke rode the R&B charts; Lucinda Williams sound-alike Kristi Johnston; Maria Muldaur; and Edmonton's Rockin' Highliners, whose wishes include that their bass player get a clue.

-- Bill Kisliuk