ON THE COVER: SATCHMO

This holiday season offers much to celebrate, but from a holiday-music perspective, it’s hard to imagine a more welcome arrival in one’s stocking than the first-ever Louis Armstrong Christmas album, Louis Wishes You a Cool Yule (Verve/UMe). The set is a true gift for Satchmo fans—and for anyone whose seasonal playlist has been feeling a little over-familiar. It’s also given Pops his biggest sales week in 20 years. Though if he were here to see himself on the cover of our Grinchy publication, he’d probably tell us to blow. In any case, we wish you a peaceful, healthy holiday; we're sure you'll enjoy the time away from us.