December 2005

Diana Krall featuring the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
Christmas Songs
Verve

By Tad Hendrickson

Krall gets a ton of help on her Christmas album from the well-drilled Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra as well as from the usual peeps in her own bands. The singer doesn't work too hard to sell it, preferring to stay in the pocket, and the solos are short all the way around, but it all sounds swingin', fun and jazzy. The set list won't offer any surprises ("Jingle Bells," "Let It Snow," "Christmas Song"), but this album has a nice, timeless quality to it.