Usually all-instrumental Christmas and cover tune albums reek ’60s kitsch but somehow harmonica hellion Smoky Greenwell redesigns ’em with a 21st century façade and a hipper sensibility. Following the success of his 2002 cool yule offering, the Smokester has done the unthinkable again by juxtaposing classic country (“Ode to Billy Joe”) classic R&B (“When A Man Loves A Woman”), classic rock (“On the Road Again”), classic blues (“Spoonful”) and even classic show tunes (“Old Man River”). Tune after tune slowly unravel ego-less, laid-back, funky-stepping jamming all supplied by Greenwell, guitarist Shane Theriot and the much sought after keyboardist, the brilliant Johnny Neel. Things start hitting their stride with the third cut, Allen Toussaint’s “Ruler of My Heart” and continue with Isley Brothers’ butt-shakin’ “It’s Your Thing” replete with second-line funky parade beats and an even funkier rendition of Elvis’ “Hound Dog.” No howling here, “Blues in The Night” finds Neel laying down breathtaking boogie-down jazz lines. When the jam pipe finally does come around to Smoky, the good groovster never misses with a soulfully expressive solo and awe-inspiring technique. Classic Smoke, oh yeah, but nothing here ever results in a second-hand coughing fit.