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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
As the song goes, "Merry Christmas" has already "been said many times, many ways." Diana Krall's Christmas Songs is a worthy--though not particularly unique--addition to the holiday catalog. On it, she excels with an approach mastered long ago: elegant delivery that gives extra polish to a very familiar lineup. Some might find her style frosty at times, but that will come as a relief to those who want their carolers to cut through some of the holiday treacle and create a festive, yet grown-up vibe. And Krall does show off her playful side with little, personal touches. In "Winter Wonderland" she promises to "frolic and play the Canadian way," which should draw smiles from her native land. (That'll mean toasting the holiday with Molson, eh?) Elsewhere, she ends "Jingle Bells" with the girlishly giddy statement, "I'm just crazy about horses." Well…can't argue with that. --Leah Weathersby
Product Description
On this beautiful production by Tommy LiPuma and Al Schmidt, Diana Krall is accompanied by the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra on holiday standards.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
134 of 143 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Various Holiday-themed Diana Krall tracks have popped up over the years, but CHRISTMAS SONGS is her first full-length Christmas album. In recent years Diana has not rested on her laurels, musically-speaking. Some such as myself have thought highly of her later albums, while others missed her earlier forays into pop/jazz standards.
CHRISTMAS SONGS should appeal to those on both sides of the fence, and will likely reach out to many newcomers as well. The sense of effervescent, swinging fun that marked portions of her earlier albums is back on a number of tracks ("Santa Claus Is Coming To Town," "Jingle Bells," etc.). Meanwhile, those of us who feel she's emotively-deepened as a vocalist in the last few years will find ample evidence of that too, particularly on the ballads ("I'll Be Home For Christmas," "White Christmas," etc.). Diana's accompiament also tries something new (for her): there's a tasty, compatible big-band on many tracks (courtesy of the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra). In addition, several ballads have string-dominated orchestrations (somewhat similar to those on THE LOOK OF LOVE).
Quite unusual for contemporary holiday albums is the lack of any attempts to write a new classic; there are no Krall-penned tunes here. Most of the songs are among the holiday season's most oft-heard classics, but Diana's voice brings a fresh touch to them. At times she effectively breaks out into scatting, and frequently tweaks the melodies to just the right extent as one would expect of a jazz singer. Of course, her piano moves into the foreground at times as well. Most if not all fans of Diana's late-1990s albums will be satisfied with this album from beginning to end, as will many who favor the recent discs. It's safe to say that CHRISTMAS SONGS will prove to stand the test of time and become a classic seasonal album.
CHRISTMAS SONGS should appeal to those on both sides of the fence, and will likely reach out to many newcomers as well. The sense of effervescent, swinging fun that marked portions of her earlier albums is back on a number of tracks ("Santa Claus Is Coming To Town," "Jingle Bells," etc.). Meanwhile, those of us who feel she's emotively-deepened as a vocalist in the last few years will find ample evidence of that too, particularly on the ballads ("I'll Be Home For Christmas," "White Christmas," etc.). Diana's accompiament also tries something new (for her): there's a tasty, compatible big-band on many tracks (courtesy of the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra). In addition, several ballads have string-dominated orchestrations (somewhat similar to those on THE LOOK OF LOVE).
Quite unusual for contemporary holiday albums is the lack of any attempts to write a new classic; there are no Krall-penned tunes here. Most of the songs are among the holiday season's most oft-heard classics, but Diana's voice brings a fresh touch to them. At times she effectively breaks out into scatting, and frequently tweaks the melodies to just the right extent as one would expect of a jazz singer. Of course, her piano moves into the foreground at times as well. Most if not all fans of Diana's late-1990s albums will be satisfied with this album from beginning to end, as will many who favor the recent discs. It's safe to say that CHRISTMAS SONGS will prove to stand the test of time and become a classic seasonal album.
42 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Diana Krall can't win. Among jazz snobs she's criticized more for her cool blond looks than her musicianship, and now jazz ideologues deprecate her work because she released a Christmas album. But her stunning beauty aside, if you were blind and an honest critic you'd be charmed and intrigued by her distinctive time signatures and in love with her voice. Diana Krall's musicianship and vocal styling just gets better with each successive release, and this album is no exception.
As far as the diminution of her seriousness as a jazz artist because of releasing a Christmas album, here follows a partial list of jazz greats who have done the same thing: Nat Cole, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Dinah Washington and Ella Fitzgerald. Those aren't good enough for you? Too "pop stylist" and not enough "jazz purist?" Okay, try on this list of jazz god-artists who also have released Christmas songs: Oscar Peterson, Ramsey Lewis, Louis Armstrong, Shirley Horn, Jimmy Smith, Bill Evans, and yes (jazz ultra-snobs begin eating ordure now) even John Coultrane ("Greensleeves").
And so Verve wisely got Krall to pick the most overdone of Christmas songs that have been covered to death by thousands of others and see what she could do. The answer is that this album is excellent, brilliant, harmless, and fun that only a Jazz Grinch couldn't love. Tommy LiPuma and Diana Krall's production is stunning, and John Clayton's arrangements and the Clayton/Hamilton orchestra's execution is flawless.
You'd think it would be hard to make "Jingle Bells" sound new, but Krall succeeds and makes a song I hate enjoyable. Her take on "I'll Be Home for Christmas" invokes memories more black and white than snow and evergreen, and with the length of her notes and excellent phrasing and sustain invokes the aching futility at the root of the song in a way not heard since World War II. Only one other artist tops Krall's excellent jazz version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," and that artist works in the genre of rock and his name is Bruce Springsteen.
Other selections are equally delightful, and the musicianship throughout is superb. This is an unapologetically excellent album for any jazz fan, and deserves heavy rotation at Christmas gatherings or just for yourself by the fire. If any of your Christmas guests is rude enough to says otherwise, keep a lump of coal handy and whip out Coultrane's "Greensleeves" for a pause to have them put a stocking in it, then follow it up with Krall's "Let it Snow" to keep the Christmas spirit in full 4/4 time.
As far as the diminution of her seriousness as a jazz artist because of releasing a Christmas album, here follows a partial list of jazz greats who have done the same thing: Nat Cole, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Dinah Washington and Ella Fitzgerald. Those aren't good enough for you? Too "pop stylist" and not enough "jazz purist?" Okay, try on this list of jazz god-artists who also have released Christmas songs: Oscar Peterson, Ramsey Lewis, Louis Armstrong, Shirley Horn, Jimmy Smith, Bill Evans, and yes (jazz ultra-snobs begin eating ordure now) even John Coultrane ("Greensleeves").
And so Verve wisely got Krall to pick the most overdone of Christmas songs that have been covered to death by thousands of others and see what she could do. The answer is that this album is excellent, brilliant, harmless, and fun that only a Jazz Grinch couldn't love. Tommy LiPuma and Diana Krall's production is stunning, and John Clayton's arrangements and the Clayton/Hamilton orchestra's execution is flawless.
You'd think it would be hard to make "Jingle Bells" sound new, but Krall succeeds and makes a song I hate enjoyable. Her take on "I'll Be Home for Christmas" invokes memories more black and white than snow and evergreen, and with the length of her notes and excellent phrasing and sustain invokes the aching futility at the root of the song in a way not heard since World War II. Only one other artist tops Krall's excellent jazz version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," and that artist works in the genre of rock and his name is Bruce Springsteen.
Other selections are equally delightful, and the musicianship throughout is superb. This is an unapologetically excellent album for any jazz fan, and deserves heavy rotation at Christmas gatherings or just for yourself by the fire. If any of your Christmas guests is rude enough to says otherwise, keep a lump of coal handy and whip out Coultrane's "Greensleeves" for a pause to have them put a stocking in it, then follow it up with Krall's "Let it Snow" to keep the Christmas spirit in full 4/4 time.
63 of 75 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Diana Krall's first full length Christmas collection is another typical posh and elegant recording from the great jazz vocalist. Backed by the marvelous Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra, Ms. Krall offers up twelve well-crafted, immaculately arranged and produced songs. The arrangements stick to the traditional but Ms. Krall's smoky vocals set the right mood for a romantic holiday party or dinner. Serve up the eggnog and let it snow.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Diana Krall Christmas Songs
Love this CD! Was recommended by a co-worker. Thanks to prime, I got it early enough to enjoy through the holiday season.
Published 4 months ago by Margaret Kaiser
Review of Diana Krall Christmas Songs
If you like Diana Krall you'll enjoy this mix of good Xmas favourites, such as Jingle bells,Have yourself a merry little Xmas, Santa Claus is coming to town etc, sung in a smooth... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Chiara Fiorucci
Show Me Your Legs For Christmas
Ms. Krall apparently aimed for "Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas" but her uninspired performances miss the mark. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Official Use Only
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas...
I really don't understand why so many reviewers gave this album 3 stars or less. It is one of the best Holiday Jazz albums I've ever heard next to Ella Fitzgerald's "Ella Wishes... Read more
Published 7 months ago by thenamegame
Gentil et cucul !
Gentil et cucul, pépère et nunuche... Cette production de Noël incontournable pour tout artiste US qui se respecte et qui arrondit les comptes de sa maison de... Read more
Published 13 months ago by PVP
Great Christmas CD
Most of the time I don't even like Christmas music, but really enjoyed this CD.
Good buy!
Good buy!
Published 16 months ago by W. Bison
Khristmas on Klonopin.
I can understand how Krall is regarded as the #1 Jazz Pianist of the last 15 years (next to Shirley Horn, although Horn was 25x better in my opinion), but I don't find her terribly... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Starr S.
Diana Krall Christmas magic!
First of all, I am a huge Diana Krall fan so I was embarrassed that I did not already own this. I just searched "Diana Krall Christmas" and this came up. It's not even a "new" cd! Read more
Published 16 months ago by L. Wells
Good try
Sorry, Diana. As much as I like your piano ... and voice ... this one doesn't make it. I assume it was the Producer, rather than you, who told you to clip the ends of words. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Judy Baehr
Great price for an amazing collection
These are the some of the most beautiful Christmas Classics that are there. I am not even Christian, but I love listening to them, the music transcends religion. Thank you Amazon!.
Published on December 14, 2009 by S. Banerjee
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