Aaron Neville

Celebrate the holiday season with some soul, as Christmas with Aaron Neville & His Quintet comes to Rams Head Tavern at 8 tonight. The New Orleans-born singer is said to encompass the diverse style of his city, having entered the musical realms of jazz, funk and even country throughout his career. The holiday concert will also feature brother Charles Neville on saxophone. Rams Head Tavern is at 33 West St., Annapolis. Tickets are $73.50 for the 21 and older show. Call 410-268-4545 or go to tickets.

It's the season of the Christmas album. They fill the racks at your neighborhood music store: Annie Lennox's "A Christmas Cornucopia," "Christmas with the Rat Pack," "Christmas with the Chipmunks. " Even Pink Martini has "Joy to the World," a nondenominational holiday album. Aaron Neville, for one, is avoiding them. "I don't hear a lot of the Christmas albums," he said. "There are too many. " The multiple-Grammy winner is in a position to know. In a career that spans five decades, he has recorded two of them, including one that went platinum.

En route to yet another gig, Aaron Neville is on a bus in Ventura, Calif., smack dab in the middle of the desert. The reception on his cell phone is weak. But Aaron's molasses-thick New Orleans accent is unmistakable. It's interesting that out of this big, brawny, tattooed dude flows one of pop's most angelic voices. He's usually decked out in tight jeans and leather vests, looking as if he's about to slide onto his Harley and burn rubber as he makes his way to a greasy juke joint. But Aaron is a shy guy, a homebody, who renders ballads in a crisp falsetto - the delicacy of which is, at times, heartbreakingly beautiful.

The Neville Brothers Fusing blues, jazz and soul to create their signature funk, the Neville Brothers have been a major force on the music scene since the '60s. Brothers Art, Charles and Aaron Neville have each had successful solo careers, but are at the best when they play together, blending their skills into one harmonious sound. They bring their keyboards, saxophones and smooth voices to the Rams Head Tavern on Monday. The show starts at 7 p.m. The tavern is at 33 West St., Annapolis.

Concert Aaron Neville Quintet Tonight at 8, the Aaron Neville Quintet hits Rams Head Tavern, 33 West St., Annapolis, for a holiday-themed show. Tickets are $69.50 and are also avail able for a show tomorrow night at 8. Call 410-268-4545 or go to ramsheadtavern.com.

The Neville Brothers Fusing blues, jazz and soul to create their signature funk, the Neville Brothers have been a major force on the music scene since the '60s. Brothers Art, Charles and Aaron Neville have each had successful solo careers, but are at the best when they play together, blending their skills into one harmonious sound. They bring their keyboards, saxophones and smooth voices to the Rams Head Tavern on Monday. The show starts at 7 p.m. The tavern is at 33 West St., Annapolis.

Happy New YearIt's time to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Boar, so I'd like to wish everyone "Feliz Ano Nuevo!" That's Spanish for "Happy New Year!" I would have wished you happy new year in Chinese, but I don't speak Chinese. I took Spanish in high school. But I bet I could find out how to say "Feliz Ano Nuevo" in Chinese at the Chinese Lunar New Year Festival being held today at Grace and St. Peter's Parish. The festival will feature Chinese dancing and music, including an audience sing-along, as well as tai-chi and karate demonstrations, theatrical performances and, of course, a really cool dragon.

If there's one thing Aaron Neville has learned over the years, it's that there's nothing more important for a singer than having the song."It's got to be a marriage thing, you know?" he says. "You bring something to the song, and the song brings something to you."Neville should know. He has been making records for 37 years now, both on his own and as a member of the Neville Brothers. He topped the R&B charts in 1966 with "Tell It Like It Is," and 23 years later went to No. 2 on the pop charts with Linda Ronstadt on "Don't Know Much."

FOR UNLAWFUL CARNAL KNOWLEDGEVan Halen (Warner Bros. 26594)Unless you're particularly predisposed to junior high school sex jokes, it's unlikely you'll find much of interest in the lyrics to Van Halen's new album, "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge." But if you're listening to this album for the words, you've already missed the point. After all, the strength of this group has always had less to do with what the frontman said than what the guys behind him played, and that's as true with Sammy Hagar as it ever was with David Lee Roth.

FIVE LIVEGeorge Michael and Queen (Hollywood 61479)On the surface, "Five Live" seems little more than a simple tribute album, in which George Michael and the surviving members of Queen pay homage to the late Freddie Mercury. Listen closely, though, and between songs, you can almost hear Michael thumbing his nose at Sony Music. How so? Because in addition to a spirited and soulful duet with Lisa Stansfield on "These Are the Days of Our Lives" and a hammy (even by Queen's standards) rendition of "Someone to Love," Michael also manages to include a couple numbers of his own, including his "Killer/Papa Was a Rolling Stone" medley.

Celebrate the holiday season with some soul, as Christmas with Aaron Neville & His Quintet comes to Rams Head Tavern at 8 tonight. The New Orleans-born singer is said to encompass the diverse style of his city, having entered the musical realms of jazz, funk and even country throughout his career. The holiday concert will also feature brother Charles Neville on saxophone. Rams Head Tavern is at 33 West St., Annapolis. Tickets are $73.50 for the 21 and older show. Call 410-268-4545 or go to tickets.

Concert Aaron Neville Quintet Tonight at 8, the Aaron Neville Quintet hits Rams Head Tavern, 33 West St., Annapolis, for a holiday-themed show. Tickets are $69.50 and are also avail able for a show tomorrow night at 8. Call 410-268-4545 or go to ramsheadtavern.com.

En route to yet another gig, Aaron Neville is on a bus in Ventura, Calif., smack dab in the middle of the desert. The reception on his cell phone is weak. But Aaron's molasses-thick New Orleans accent is unmistakable. It's interesting that out of this big, brawny, tattooed dude flows one of pop's most angelic voices. He's usually decked out in tight jeans and leather vests, looking as if he's about to slide onto his Harley and burn rubber as he makes his way to a greasy juke joint. But Aaron is a shy guy, a homebody, who renders ballads in a crisp falsetto - the delicacy of which is, at times, heartbreakingly beautiful.

If there's one thing Aaron Neville has learned over the years, it's that there's nothing more important for a singer than having the song."It's got to be a marriage thing, you know?" he says. "You bring something to the song, and the song brings something to you."Neville should know. He has been making records for 37 years now, both on his own and as a member of the Neville Brothers. He topped the R&B charts in 1966 with "Tell It Like It Is," and 23 years later went to No. 2 on the pop charts with Linda Ronstadt on "Don't Know Much."

ChumbawambaTubthumper (Republic/Universal 53099)Although it would be perfectly accurate to describe Chumbawamba's music as socialist agit-pop, it would also be misleading. True, the group's album is full of leftist social commentary, from the pointedly political lyrics to the sly, sarcastic soundbites sprinkled between tracks. But the phrase "socialist agit-pop" sounds preachy, dreary and annoying, whereas "Tubthumper" is catchy, approachable and fun. A giddy mix of rock and funk, songwriting and sampling, Chumbawamba's music is full of pop smarts, from the cheery, chant-along chorus of the title tune to the crunchy power chords that kick along the verse to "Amnesia."

Wolf Trap Park in Vienna, Va., has announced a summer concert season that includes everything from the country music of Travis Tritt to the swinging pop of Natalie Cole. The park, at 1551 Trap Road off I-495, is about an hour's drive from Baltimore.May includes Tritt and the Charlie Daniels Band perform on May 24; and Seal and Des'ree on May 25. The Irish folk festival, with more than 150 performers, takes place on May 28.Shawn Colvin and Bruce Cockburn will appear on June 2, John Prine on June 10, the Louisiana Swamp Romp is June 11, Regina Belle on June 14, John Denver and the National Symphony Orchestra on June 15, John Michael Montgomery on June 18, Little Feat and Delbert McClinton on June 10 and Trisha Yearwood on June 21.June also will bring the Jazz and Blues Festival at Wolf Trap, with Al Jarreau performing on June 23, Grover Washington Jr. and Buddy Guy on June 24, and an all-day concert on June 25 featuring Joshua Redman, Poncho Sanchez, Keb' Mo' and others.

Wolf Trap Park in Vienna, Va., has announced a summer concert season that includes everything from the country music of Travis Tritt to the swinging pop of Natalie Cole. The park, at 1551 Trap Road off I-495, is about an hour's drive from Baltimore.May includes Tritt and the Charlie Daniels Band perform on May 24; and Seal and Des'ree on May 25. The Irish folk festival, with more than 150 performers, takes place on May 28.Shawn Colvin and Bruce Cockburn will appear on June 2, John Prine on June 10, the Louisiana Swamp Romp is June 11, Regina Belle on June 14, John Denver and the National Symphony Orchestra on June 15, John Michael Montgomery on June 18, Little Feat and Delbert McClinton on June 10 and Trisha Yearwood on June 21.June also will bring the Jazz and Blues Festival at Wolf Trap, with Al Jarreau performing on June 23, Grover Washington Jr. and Buddy Guy on June 24, and an all-day concert on June 25 featuring Joshua Redman, Poncho Sanchez, Keb' Mo' and others.

ChumbawambaTubthumper (Republic/Universal 53099)Although it would be perfectly accurate to describe Chumbawamba's music as socialist agit-pop, it would also be misleading. True, the group's album is full of leftist social commentary, from the pointedly political lyrics to the sly, sarcastic soundbites sprinkled between tracks. But the phrase "socialist agit-pop" sounds preachy, dreary and annoying, whereas "Tubthumper" is catchy, approachable and fun. A giddy mix of rock and funk, songwriting and sampling, Chumbawamba's music is full of pop smarts, from the cheery, chant-along chorus of the title tune to the crunchy power chords that kick along the verse to "Amnesia."

Happy New YearIt's time to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Boar, so I'd like to wish everyone "Feliz Ano Nuevo!" That's Spanish for "Happy New Year!" I would have wished you happy new year in Chinese, but I don't speak Chinese. I took Spanish in high school. But I bet I could find out how to say "Feliz Ano Nuevo" in Chinese at the Chinese Lunar New Year Festival being held today at Grace and St. Peter's Parish. The festival will feature Chinese dancing and music, including an audience sing-along, as well as tai-chi and karate demonstrations, theatrical performances and, of course, a really cool dragon.

FIVE LIVEGeorge Michael and Queen (Hollywood 61479)On the surface, "Five Live" seems little more than a simple tribute album, in which George Michael and the surviving members of Queen pay homage to the late Freddie Mercury. Listen closely, though, and between songs, you can almost hear Michael thumbing his nose at Sony Music. How so? Because in addition to a spirited and soulful duet with Lisa Stansfield on "These Are the Days of Our Lives" and a hammy (even by Queen's standards) rendition of "Someone to Love," Michael also manages to include a couple numbers of his own, including his "Killer/Papa Was a Rolling Stone" medley.