(MusicPortal.com) (10/25/05)

Edited By Michael Bennett

NEW YORK, NY, USA - Grammy-winning pianist/singer Diana Krall is set to release her first-ever full-length Christmas album.

Entitled "Christmas Songs, Featuring The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra," the new disc is due for release via Verve Records on November 1st.

Co-produced by Krall with Tommy LiPuma, the album features the talents of renowned arranger and bassist John Clayton (Count Basie, Duke Ellington), guitarist Anthony Wilson (Chris Botti, Michael Buble), drummer Jeff Hamilton (Rosemary Clooney, Natalie Cole) and bassist Bob Hurst ("The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," "Saturday Night Live").

The Clayton/Hamilton Orchestra accompanies Krall for the seasonal standards 'Let It Snow,' 'I'll Be Home For Christmas,' 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town' and 'Jingle Bells, while legendary composer Johnny Mandel contributes a string arrangement to 'Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep.'

Rounding out the album are previously released versions of 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' and 'Christmas Time Is Here' with a band that includes guitarist Russell Malone.

Speaking on the beginning of the creation of "Christmas Songs" this past Summer: "There I was in a hotel room in London," Diana Krall recalls, "practicing 'Let It Snow' on a white upright, wondering if I had high enough range to sing 'just hear those sleigh bells ringing!'"

"I'm sure somebody next door was going, 'I had this horrible nightmare: Diana Krall was singing Christmas songs at 3:00 in the morning in June!'"

Only a few weeks later, the celebrated singer and pianist was again surprising anyone within earshot with a more melodic and happy sound.

"In the middle of hot July in British Columbia, my Dad, my sister and I were in my car with the windows rolled down and we were all laughing! We were listening to the latest mix of 'Jingle Bells,' and had it cranked up! It just came out great."

To say that the Canadian-born Krall is proud of "Christmas Songs," a dozen familiar tunes that gleefully wing the spirit of the season, is an understatement.

"It was just the most joyful experience I've had," she says. "It's the first time with all confidence I've said, 'This is a great record.'"

"Yes, it's a Christmas album, but I wanted to make this record in a style that the great singers that I admire used to make. I approached this record like I would any other jazz record. It had to swing!"

"Christmas Songs" is indeed that -- a hip sleigh ride that jingles its Jazz credentials proudly, and revels in a wide range of the genre's greats such as Nat "King" Cole, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and Rosemary Clooney.

It's an album that benefits not only from Krall's swinging and singing, but her own production A-team, co-producer Tommy LiPuma and engineer Al Schmidt.

"With Tommy and Al there's such a strong, family-like feeling -- they are family to me. This is our ninth studio album together. There was a lot of laughter, and there's always a lot of care in all that we do together."

Krall also credits her long-standing bond with bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton, who, with saxophonist Jeffrey Clayton, are celebrating twenty years co-leading the renowned Clayton/Hamilton Orchestra.

On "Christmas Songs," Krall is accompanied by both the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra as well as her regular rhythm backup in guitarist Anthony Wilson and bassist Robert Hurst.

"They all work so well together -- Anthony, Robert, and the Orchestra, which is one of the best. With the Clayton Hamilton band, there was a guarantee that everything we did would be swinging."

"I was lucky to have the Orchestra on the session, but also fortunate to have known these guys for so long. I've known John and Jeff since I was 19. They're like my brothers -- we know each other in a deeply musical and personal way.

"When John and I initially talked about this project, we knew where we were going before we even went there. We all love those great albums by Ella, Count Basie, Frank Sinatra's 'Live At The Sands,' and wanted to capture the joy and swing of those records."

"I had a list of tunes that were all my favorites from when I was a little girl. We decided to focus on the Great American Songbook approach to Christmas melodies, like those written by Irving Berlin, one of my favorite composers."

"Those tunes seem more suited for jazz interpretation than traditional carols Ð but I'd still like a chance to record the more religious songs in the future as well."

Hamilton provided arrangements for "Christmas Songs," as did another old friend of Krall's. "Working with Johnny Mandel has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I respect him immensely."

"He contributed his magic to this album -- you know it's him as soon as you hear the music."

For the few who may still be unaware, Diana Krall is the 39-year old sensation whose cool, heavy-lidded vocals and strikingly sensitive piano-playing have helped her transcend barriers of genre to become a popular artist of the first order.

Since her recording debut in 1993, Krall has released nine albums (including her first seasonal effort, the EP "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" in '98), garnered numerous awards and topped the Pop charts as well.

Krall's arrival has been rapid. In 1999, her breakthrough, "When I Look in Your Eyes," won a Grammy for "Best Jazz Vocal," and was the first Jazz disc to be nominated for "Album Of The Year" in twenty-five years.

In 2001, "The Look Of Love" was a #1 bestseller in the U.S. and a five-time platinum album in Canada.

Her most recent album, 2004's "The Girl In The Other Room," was her first to focus on her own songwriting, with six tunes co-written with her husband Elvis Costello.

The seeds of Diana Krall's crossover success are firmly rooted in her upbringing.

Born in Nanaimo, Canada, to a musical family, she grew up absorbing great music, learning piano and celebrating Christmas in a manner that informs "Christmas Songs."

"We would always have a big Christmas party at our house for family and friends -- everyone would sing from sheet music -- from traditional carols to jazzed up versions of 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town' and 'Jingle Bells.'"

"The point was we were all singing together, and that's something that will always be dear to me, and still is."

Krall recorded "Christmas Songs" this past June and July at Los Angeles' famed Capitol Studios, getting into the decorative spirit of Noel.

"Capitol already has a nostalgic feel and such a sense of history. We put up a Christmas tree, candles and ornaments all set up in the studio. It was all very joyful with a lot of laughing. I felt like a little girl and this was my party!"

"The recording was a very organic process, and we mostly used first and second takes. All my vocals were done live with the band. There's a passage in 'Jingle Bells' where the band and I were just so in sync. I truly believe in live performance."

The album contains a couple of firsts for Krall: she cuts loose her scatting talent, till now relegated to the live stage, on the opening track. And she surprisingly cedes the piano chair intermittently to focus on her singing (though all the piano solos are her handy-work).

"It was a big issue for me initially. I felt like I should be playing piano on the whole record. But after I got in the studio, I enjoyed having the opportunity to just sing."

Krall also faced a somewhat intimidating legacy on her daily arrival at the studio.

"Everyday I walked down that Capitol hallway, and I'd see photos of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Keely Smith, Peggy Lee, of course Nat King Cole. I'd be going, 'I will do my best today!'"

Krall challenged herself further by selecting tunes associated with many of her heroes.

"'White Christmas' is a tip of the hat to the Nat Cole/George Shearing recording, 'Beautiful Friendship.' 'Jingle Bells' owes a lot to Ella Fitzgerald's version, right down to the tag about digging horses."

"'Count Your Blessings' is a perfect way to end it because of its message of hope. I sang that song at Rosemary Clooney's memorial -- this album is joyful, but that's not to say that there aren't feelings of loss as well."

Krall imbued the music with hidden, personally-relevant references, and chuckles remembering how unplanned some of them were.

"Singing that line 'frolic and play/the Canadian way' on 'Winter Wonderland' and breaking up the rhythm a little, that was something I improvised on the second take. We just kept it in. I mean, we know winters better than most you know!"

"And I remember on the end of 'Let It Snow', John said to me don't be afraid to stretch that phrase out: 'let . . . iiiiiiit . . . snow.' And I said, 'O.K., I really will. I'll have a laugh and overdo it.' But we listened back and it was really good - and we still had a laugh!"

"In the same song, there's an Ellington-flavored break. I remember John said, 'Oh -- I didn't expect that.' Well, he's one of my biggest influences on piano. When I studied with Jimmy Rowles, we used to listen to Duke Ellington records all day."

"Everything on this album has a personal meaning behind it. Like at one point there's a rhythmic thing I do: 'buh-bah, buh-bah' - that's me saying 'Ray Brown' (the legendary bassist)."

"The listener may not catch these little things, but it doesn't matter, it all comes out musically in the end."

"Christmas Songs" promises to add to Krall's renown, and her schedule. As her career keeps her busy and in the spotlight, so she has learned to value her time -- and holidays -- as never before.

"I'm very protective about my time, especially around Christmas. I don't like to work past December 10th."

"This album will be out in time for the holidays, but I won't be touring then. I'll be home and most importantly, I'll be with my husband. I'm very grounded that way."

The idea of Christmas at home brings forth a final pair of memories: two under-the-tree discoveries Krall recalls years later.

"My best Christmas present? A purple bicycle, with a white banana seat. But the worst Christmas present I ever got is worth telling too."

"I was 15, and just about to break it to my parents that I was going to quit playing the clarinet. I was the third clarinet in the concert band, because I had to play in the concert band so I could play in the jazz band. I was a terrible clarinet player."

"So on Christmas morning and there was my clarinet all wrapped up, and my parents telling me they bought it for Christmas. Everybody else was getting records and ski stuff, and it was like I got a rock."

"That didn't happen again. We still laugh about it today."

Laughter, warmth, and an unbridled sense of swing buoyed by the season: that's what "Christmas Songs" is about. And like a well-delivered holiday toast, Diana Krall is succinct and positive in her wish for her latest recording.

"I just hope this album gives people the sense of joy that I had in making it. I hope they dance to it!"

"Christmas Songs, Featuring The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra" Track Listing:
1. Jingle Bells
2. Let It Snow
3. The Christmas Song
4. Winter Wonderland
5. I'll Be Home For Christmas
6. Christmas Time Is Here
7. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
8. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
9. White Christmas
10. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve
11. Sleigh Ride
12. Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep

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