Diana Krall/Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra - Christmas Songs

On her first full-length christmas album, pianist/vocalist Diana Krall delivers a smoky, sophisticated, and slightly melancholy album perfectly suited to accompany egg nog cocktails and romantic afterglow holiday affairs. Although there isn't anything unexpected on Christmas Songs -- Irving Berlin's "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep" is as close to obscure as it gets -- Krall coos life into such standards as "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve," and "I'll Be Home for Christmas." It also doesn't hurt that she gains top-notch support from the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra, whose urbane arrangements help bring to mind similar works by such iconic vocalists as Nat King Cole, June Christy, and Frank Sinatra. But it's not all deep sighs and bedroom eyes; on the contrary, Krall keeps things swinging with such uptempo numbers as the joyous "Jingle Bells," "Winter Wonderland," and the Blossom Dearie-inflected "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." If you like your holiday albums cool and classy, Christmas Songs is a stocking stuffer that's sure to please. ~ Matt Collar, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adam Schroeder Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Baritone) Al Schmitt Engineer, Mixing Alan Broadbent Piano Anthony Wilson Guitar, Soloist Assa Drori Concert Master Ben Wolfe Bass, Double Bass Bill Airey Smith Assistant Engineer Brad Warnaar French Horn Brian Vibberts Assistant Engineer Charles Owens II Clarinet, Sax (Tenor) Charlie Pichon Make-Up Clay Jenkins Trumpet Coco Shinomiya Design David Swope Assistant Engineer Diana Krall Soloist, Audio Production, Digital Editing, Piano, Arranger, Vocals Doug Sax Mastering Emil Richards Percussion Evelyn Morgan A&R George Bohanon Soloist, Trombone Gerald Clayton Piano Gilbert Castellanos Trumpet, Soloist Hannah Teare Wardrobe Assistant Hollis King Art Direction Ira Nepus Trombone, Soloist Jeff Clayton Sax (Alto), Soloist, Flute Jeff Hamilton Drums Joe Meyer French Horn Joe Porcaro Percussion John Clayton Arranger, Double Bass, Conductor, Bass Johnny Mandel Arranger, Digital Editing, Conductor Jules Chaiken Orchestra Contractor Keith Fiddmont Clarinet, Sax (Alto) Koji Egawa Assistant Engineer Nicole Clarke Hair Stylist Randy Waldman Keyboards Rick Baptist Trumpet Rick Todd French Horn Rickey Woodard Clarinet, Soloist, Sax (Tenor) Robert Hurst Bass, Double Bass Russell Malone Guitar Sal Cracchiolo Trumpet Sam Taylor-Wood Photography Shari Sutcliffe Project Coordinator, Contractor Stefon Harris Vibraphone Steve Genewick Assistant Engineer, Digital Editing Tamir Hendelman Piano, Fender Rhodes Tommy Johnson Tuba Tommy LiPuma Digital Editing, Audio Production William Barnhart Trumpet