The friendly, grizzled presence of John Lee Hooker, as warm as the thought of Santa Claus himself, is enough to steal hearts with this latest CD. On "Friends," Hooker collects his work with everyone from Bonnie Raitt to Carlos Santana. He jives on "Boogie Chillen" with Eric Clapton at his side and rocks with Jimmie Vaughan on "Boom Boom." Hooker's sexy, soulful vibe is unparallelled among musicians of any genre, but his willingness to share the spotlight with other great musicians is what makes this disc a treat. These partnerships are the pefect backdrop for holiday get-togethers of all kinds.

-- Beth Winegarner

This article was originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle.