It seems odd that Bette Midler didn't release her first Christmas album until 2006, but COOL YULE proves worth the wait. A solid collection of seasonal favorites, the album features Midler in typically excellent voice backed with a kicky jazz combo and orchestra. Along with the usual standards, Midler dips into more personal waters, recalling her own Hawaiian childhood with the traditional island tune "Mele Kalikimaka" and performing a tongue-in-cheek rewrite of her previous hit "From A Distance." A duet with Johnny Mathis on a medley of Yuletide favorites is equally endearing.