Larry Karpenko Lights Up the Holiday Season With His Latest Album "Celebrate The King"

You know what? Larry Karpenko’s new holiday album “Celebrate the King“, feels like Christmas morning if Christmas morning came with good coffee, a peaceful mood, and that one relative who actually knows how to sing. The 12 track album is warm, joyful, and full of the kind of energy that makes you want to straighten your posture so you look like a respectable human being for once.

I love the way the album mixes classics with new original songs, and somehow Larry makes it all sound personal. It’s like he recorded half of it while smiling and the other half while trying not to cry. The title track, “Celebrate the King,” is the big, cheerful one. It’s the musical version of someone shouting, “Everybody get in here, we’re doing this!” It’s bright, upbeat, and I’m 90% sure it could get a room full of tired adults to clap on beat.

Then there’s “Lullaby for a King,” the opener, which is so gentle you might physically feel your shoulders drop. It’s the kind of song parents would play when they want their kids to stop running around like caffeinated squirrels. “Jesus, You’re Christmas” brings in a jazzy warmth that makes you feel like you should be sitting near a fireplace; even if you don’t own one.

A lot of the magic on this album comes from the people around Larry. He’s got longtime friends, family members, and talented collaborators all jumping in. His daughter sings on “Adore,” and the whole track has this comfortable calm that makes you feel like you accidentally walked in on a sweet family moment but were allowed to stay because you don’t look too suspicious. Earnest Kim’s wild jazz chops show up on “Hark! The Herald,” and suddenly the song sounds like it took a quick detour through a holiday party hosted by someone who owns way too many brass instruments.

Larry pulls ideas from everywhere—jazz, worship music, big band vibes, and even a touch of “what if the Beatles decorated a Christmas tree?” Somehow it all blends without feeling messy. You can tell he had fun making it, which is rare these days unless someone hands you free cookies.

The recording took place at Kreation Records Studio in Loma Linda, a spot Larry clearly trusts. He talks about the sessions like they were part music, part prayer, part “wow, that actually worked.” One of the nicest details is that before certain takes, they’d pause to pray and focus. In a world where most people can’t even pause to charge their phones, that feels refreshing. A standout moment is his upcoming classical piece, “Call to The Helper,” which will premiere in 2026. If the description is accurate, it sounds like it could easily summon either spiritual comfort or dramatic weather. Possibly both.

Overall, “Celebrate the King” is one of those rare holiday albums that doesn’t feel like a copy-and-paste project. It has heart. It has personality. It has a big joyful streak running through it, with enough sincerity to make even the most stressed-out holiday shoppers breathe a little easier. See there’s this amazing piece on the album that warms ma heart and soul, the track titled You’re Here.

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