Dutch sax player Candy Dulfer. (publicity photo)

My December attempt to make sense of smooth jazz holiday music is now a blur of musicians in Santa hats and cheesy, soprano sax versions of "O Holy Night." But one performer from the shows I attended stands out: Dutch saxophonist Candy Dulfer. Part of Dave Koz's touring holiday smooth jazz extravaganza, Dulfer was just another sax player struggling to get through "Little Drummer Boy" with a straight face until she started playing her own material. "Lily Was Here,' a collaboration with David Stewart of Eurythmics, remains one of the recognizable jazz instrumentals of the '90s. If you're someone who appreciates the menthol-cool of smooth jazz and can get past the fact that Dulfer's new album is titled Funked Up & Chilled Out, check out her performance at the Birchmere tonight. 

Also tonight: The Antlers at Black Cat