Track listing: We Sing Together, The Christmas Song, O Christmas Tree, My Favorite Things, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Christmas Time is Here, Frosty the Snowman, Winter Wonderland, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, Jingle Bells, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Holly Jolly Christmas, Silent Night, O Come O Come Emmanuel, I'll Be Home for Christmas, Let It Snow, Silver Bells, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Auld Lang Syne, Spring

An annual Christmas musical fave of mine is Rigel Thurston's We Sing Together. The Austin-based pianist, singer, songwriter, music teacher and songwriting mentor released the album in 2018, and I've been too busy enjoying it to sit down and write a review of it.

The entire album is Rigel on piano and vocals. The production is delightfully sparse and authentic, essentially a holiday-themed version of his regular gig as the house musician at famed Austin seafood destination, Truluck's.

We Sing Together is chock full of Christmas classics: 19 songs that include 2 originals (Tracks 1 & 19), 16 Christmas standards, and "Auld Lang Syne," should you keep it on your playlist through New Year's Eve.

I've personally played We Sing Together each of the past 3 holidays seasons and houseguests have asked if it's Randy Newman, Michael Buble, and Harry Connick Jr., among others. As previously mentioned, the production doesn't pack the wallop (nor did it have the budget) of those guys' Christmas albums, so folks typically think it's an unreleased track that I've gotten my paws on. So when I tell them "it's a local guy, you can see him every weekend in Austin," they're blown away.

No need to take my word for how enjoyable, how delightful Rigel's album is. Take a listen! It's available on Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music. But don't just stream it. The biggest compliment you can pay any career musician is to pay them. Buy this record! And while you enjoy Rigel's musicality, please have yourself a merry little Christmas.