Christmas Songs

Read About This Recording

Christmas music and jazz have had a mutually beneficial relationship for decades. Many of the Yuletide favorites have favorable chord changes that make them perfect for jazz interpretations, and quite often the jazz versions are among the top renditions of the vintage material. Conversely, many of the better selling albums by jazz players and singers are of Christmas tunes. It is always interesting to hear what the jazz performers can do to the familiar songs, and how they can make them their own while still being respectful to the original themes and the spirit of the season.

Diana Krall's Christmas Songs is a great deal of fun. The singer-pianist is in happy form, being joined by the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and putting feeling into such songs as I'll Be Home For Christmas, Winter Wonderland, Let It Snow and even Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. There is nothing heavy or obscure about the material or treatments, for this is Diana Krall paying tribute to the joy of the Christmas season in a frequently exuberant setting. The many fans of Diana Krall, and of Christmas jazz in general, will definitely want this one.

-Scott Yanow

Contents

Jingle Bells; Let It Snow; The Christmas Song; Winter Wonderland; I'll Be Home for Christmas; Christmas Time Is Here; Santa Claus Is Coming to Town; Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas; White Christmas; What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?; Sleigh Ride; Count Your Blessing Instead of Sheep.

Diana Krall, Vocals/Piano; Alan Broadbent, Gerald Clayton, Tamir Hendelman, Pianos; Randy Waldman, Keyboards; Stefon Harris, Vibes; Anthony Wilson, Russell Malone, Guitars; John Clayton, Robert Hurst, Ben Wolfe, Basses; Jeff Hamilton, Drums; Emil Richards, Joe Porcaro, Percussion; Rick Baptist, Clay Jenkins, William Barnhart, Gilbert Castellanos, Sal Cracchiolo, Trumpets; George Bohanon, Ira Nepus, Trombone; Tommy Johnson, Tuba; Rick Todd, Brad Warnaar, Joe Meyer, French Horns; Jeff Clayton, Flute/Alto Sax; Charles Owens II, Rickey Woodard, Clarinets/Tenor Saxes; Keith Fiddmont, Alto Sax/Clarinet; Adam Schroeder, Bass Clarinet/Baritone Sax; Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble; Johnny Mandel, Arranger.