March may seem like an odd time to buy a Christmas concert DVD, but this is the Blind Boys of Alabama we’re talking about—not only do America’s hippest gospel singers transcend tinsel on this new disc, they flip genres as easily as they do on their acclaimed studio albums (most notably 2000’s Grammy-winning Spirit of the Century). They may be showing their age, leader Clarence Fountain especially, but this trio is still ready to deliver an uplifting message that transcends time, musical barriers, and, oddly enough, religion.

Shot at the Beacon Theatre in New York City last December, the Blind Boys get help, just as they do on record, from an array of gospel and gospel-friendly music vets. And as on record, the matchups work (Robert Randolph and Charlie Musselwhite working out on “If I Had A Hammer”) far more often than not (Michael Franti’s unnecessary spoken-word addition to “Little Drummer Boy”). Ex-Pretender Chrissie Hynde is the odd woman out, but her performances on “In The Bleak Midwinter” and Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” (again with Randolph) still make sense. And the presence of Randolph, Mavis Staples, and Aaron Neville (ethereal as always on “Joy To The World” and “People Get Ready”) helps cement the ties between old-time religion and new-school gospel.

As to whether or not you need the DVD, well, the track selection here is perfectly balanced between the actual Mountain studio CD and their greatest hits, so it may be worthwhile for even a casual fan. And while these old men don’t have much stage presence, the concluding suite of more traditional songs (including “Look Where He Brought Me From” and an all-star jam on “Down By The Riverside”) prove that the presence of the Lord—as channeled through the Blind Boys—is more than enough to light up any room. Buy it now, enjoy it all year, and then give it to someone for Christmas 2005. We won’t tell.