Larry Karpenko Ignites the Season with His Spirited Holiday Album “Celebrate the King”

Larry Karpenko’s Celebrate the King is more than a Christmas album; it’s a heartfelt tapestry of faith, family, craftsmanship, and creative courage. Across 12 tracks, the Loma Linda–based artist reimagines holiday classics while boldly introducing original compositions that stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them. What makes this project shine is not just Karpenko’s musicality, but the community of artists who helped shape it.

From Ben Phipatanakul’s jazzy spark on “What Child Is This” to Shawn Scott’s lifelong bass groove on “Christmas Time Is Here,” each contributor leaves an emotional fingerprint that elevates the record. His daughter, Lauryn, brings warmth to “Adore,” while his son, Andrew, inspires an entire jazz arrangement, turning the album into a family portrait set to music.

Influences ranging from Steven Curtis Chapman and Diana Krall to Jon Bellion and Vince Guaraldi echo throughout, but never overshadow Karpenko’s voice. Instead, they deepen the album’s narrative, blending cinematic ballads, big-band joy, smooth jazz, worship intimacy, and even Beatles-styled experimentation. The title track, “Celebrate the King,” is its radiant centerpiece, a burst of gospel-pop energy that feels like a holiday parade in motion. In contrast, “Lullaby for a King” and “Jesus, You’re Christmas” offer quieter moments of devotion, showcasing Karpenko’s strength as both a storyteller and spiritual craftsman.

Recorded at Kreation Records Studio, the album’s creation was intentionally sacred sessions filled with spontaneity, prayer, and the kind of artistic flow that can’t be manufactured. As Karpenko prepares for the 2026 premiere of his new sacred composition, Call to the Helper, this release marks a defining moment in his musical journey. Celebrate the King is warm, inventive, reverent, and joy-filled, a holiday offering destined to resonate long after the season fades.

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