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When searching for the perfect musical complement to the holiday season, it didn’t take long to find the perfect fit. How about a “Christmas Wrapped in Brass?”

That just happens to be the N.C. Brass Band, which performed last Friday night at Salem College in Winston-Salem.

We were even greeted by Santa Claus upon entering Hanes Auditorium and escaping the early December chill for a night to experience the wonderful music associated with this special time of year — featuring some of the finest brass players and percussionists in the state.

I’ve always favored the horns, going back to my younger days when bands like Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire were among my all-time favorite bands.

They have both more than stood the test of time, still performing at a high level despite several founding members from each group now well into their 70s. In fact, my wife and I celebrated my last birthday by going to Charlotte for an outdoor concert to see the two bands at PNC Music Pavilion and sing along to all the old hits.

Checking out the N.C. Brass Band, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, perform with a play list featuring favorites such as “Sleigh Ride” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” was also a real treat — especially when the group injected some humor into such tunes as “The Twelve Days of Christmas (North Carolina-style).”

That included, “On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a doughnut from Krispy Kreme.” Then there were “five biscuits from Bojangles” and “six cans of Cheerwine” as other examples highlighting our state.

Lindsay Kesselman, a twice Grammy-nominated soprano who is an assistant professor of voice and choral music at UNC-Greensboro, sang a solo to that one along with several other traditional songs.

This concert certainly met and exceeded all expectations — and was a terrific way to officially bring in the Christmas season.

Next up is one that has become a fixture on the local calendar when the Salem Band comes to Clemmons First Baptist Church for a free holiday concert (donations are accepted) for “All the Angels Sing!” with two dates available — Thursday, Dec. 12, and Thursday, Dec. 19, both at 7:30 p.m.

A word of warning: If the past is any indication, get there early to get a seat. 

That will be followed on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 3 p.m. when the Salem Swing Band will perform what is described as “lots of your favorite sacred and secular holiday songs, all in a swing style.”

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With this being the festive season, that typically means lots of family gatherings and the like.

And, of course, food. That always leads to debates on what’s going to be on the menu.

Take Thanksgiving, for example. Our family is not very traditional when it comes to the main meal, so it’s always a huge breakfast for the big meal.

If you remember the Shoney’s breakfast buffet, that’s what it looks like. You know — eggs, bacon, sausage, hash-brown casserole, grits, gravy, biscuits, baked apples, etc. Yum!

We gather — 16 of us from multiple generations — at my father-in-law’s house to partake in the feast and eat until we’re stuffed. 

However, there’s always that thought to do what most others do on Thanksgiving … you know, things like, well, turkey (although many in our family aren’t fans), dressing, some of the classic sides and desserts.

So we go with a “lighter” meal later in the day — which usually means one plate and leftovers.

There seems to be a debate on what are the most popular pies, especially at Thanksgiving, with pumpkin drawing the biggest following in most polls. 

Again, not in our family. Sweet potato pie wins by a large margin. I really like it, too, but would prefer having sweet potato casserole as a side with pumpkin pie as a dessert. You know, win-win.

Somehow or other, someone else made a pumpkin pie in addition to my wife, so I ate some pie with the late Thanksgiving meal and had a whole pie to bring home — along with a big bag of turkey.

Hey, I truly do love Thanksgiving and Christmas for all the right reasons, but the sounds of the season and delicious food just make it all complete.