Diana Krall & The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra – Christmas Songs (2005)

Diana Jean Krall OC OBC (born November 16, 1964) is a Canadian jazz pianist and singer known for her contralto vocals.

She has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide, including over six million in the US. On December 11, 2009, Billboard magazine named her the second greatest jazz artist of the decade (2000–2009), establishing her as one of the best-selling artists of her time.

Krall is the only jazz singer to have had eight albums debuting at the top of the Billboard Jazz Albums. To date, she has won three Grammy Awards and eight Juno Awards. She has also earned nine gold, three platinum, and seven multi-platinum albums. (wikipedia)

Christmas Songs is the eighth studio album by Canadian singer Diana Krall, performed with The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. It was released on October 26, 2005, by Verve Records. This is Krall’s first full-length album of Christmas songs (not counting her 1998 EP Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas), and her first studio album with a big band. The album was released on vinyl for the first time on October 14, 2016.

Tad Hendrickson of JazzTimes stated, “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”.

John Bungey of The Times noted, “If your idea of a perfect Yuletide is Jimmy Stewart on the telly and Bing on the radio, and you believe that, musically, it’s all been downhill since 1955, then Krall’s album will suit perfectly”.

Dave Gelly and Nail Spenser of The Observer wrote, “If you feared the worst after hearing Diana Krall’s last, rather droopy CD you can cheer up, because this one proves she hasn’t forgotten how to swing after all. Corny idea or not, it is a terrific jazz-vocal album that will raise your spirits now and for several Christmases to come” (wikipedia)

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. (by Matt Collar)

Personnel:
George Bohanon (trombone solo on 11.)
Alan Broadbent (piano on 12.)
Gilbert Castellanos (trumpet solo on 11.)
Gerald Clayton (piano on 07.)
Jeff Clayton (saxophone solo on 02., flute solo on 05.)
John Clayton (bass on 03. + 09.)
Jeff Hamilton (drums on 03., 06., 09. + 12.)
Stefon Harris (vibraphone on 09.)
Tamir Hendelman (piano on 10. + 11.)
Robert Hurst (bass on 12.)
Diana Krall (vocals, piano)
Russell Malone (guitar on 06. + 08.)
Ira Nepus (trombone solo on 02.)
Emil Richards (percussion on 12.)
Randy Waldman (keyboards on 12.)
Anthony Wilson (guitar on 03., 04., 09. + 12.)
Ben Wolfe (bass on 06. + 08.)
Rickey Woodard (saxophone solo on 04.)
+
The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra:
Jeff Clayton (saxophone, flute)
Jeff Hamilton (drums)
Robert Hurst (bass)
Tommy Johnson (tuba)
Joe Porcaro (percussion)
Anthony Wilson (guitar)

saxophone, clarinet:
Keith Fiddmont – Rickey Woodard – Charles Owens – Adam Schroeder

trumpets:
Rick Baptist – Sal Cracchiolo – Clay Jenkins – Gilberto Gilbert Castellanos – William Barnhart

trombone:
Ira Nepus – George Bohanon – Ryan Porter

french horns:
Rick Todd – David Duke – Joe Meyer – Brad Warnaar

Tracklist:
01. Jingle Bells (Pierpont) 3.26
02. Let It Snow (Styne/Cahn) 4.01
03. The Christmas Song (Tormé/Wells) 4.24
04. Winter Wonderland (Bernard/Smith) 3.15
05. I’ll Be Home For Christmas (Gannon/Kent/Ram) 3.07
06. Christmas Time Is Here (Guaraldi/Mendelson) 3.35
07. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Coots/Gillespie) 2.53
08. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Blane/Martin) 4.19
09. White Christmas (Berlin) 4.31
10. What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve (Loesser) 4.10
11. Sleigh Ride (Anderson/Parish) 3.26
12. Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep (Berlin) 3.41

*
**

The official website:

Tony Bennett – Playin’ With My Friends – Bennett Sings The Blues (2001)

Playin’ with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues is a 2001 album by Tony Bennett featuring duets with notable vocalists.

Tony Bennett’s latter-day albums tend to have themes, and this one has two, as indicated by its double-barreled title: It is both a duets album and a blues album. The duet partners include ten singers who range from his recent touring partners Diana Krall and k.d. lang to fellow veterans Ray Charles, B.B. King, and Kay Starr, and younger, but still mature pop stars Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt, and Billy Joel. All sound happy to be sharing a mic with Bennett. Not surprisingly, the singer’s conception of the blues does not extend to the Mississippi Delta or the South Side of Chicago; rather, he is interested in the blues as filtered through the sound of the Swing Era, particularly from around Kansas City, and as interpreted by Tin Pan Alley and show tunes. For the former, his true mentor is Count Basie, whose overt influence is heard on six of the 15 tracks.

Bennett makes no attempt to hide this, leading off the album with two songs, “Alright, Okay, You Win” (a duet with Krall) and “Everyday (I Have the Blues)” (a duet with Wonder), closely associated with Basie singer Joe Williams. The Broadway and Hollywood blues style is introduced in three selections written by Harold Arlen. On about half the tracks, the Ralph Sharon Quartet is augmented by Harry Allen’s saxophone and Mike Melvoin’s Hammond organ, but this remains a small, intimate affair that emphasizes the singers. There are missteps — Sheryl Crow’s Billie Holiday impersonation on “Good Morning, Heartache” is unfortunate, and Natalie Cole, as usual, sounds out of her depth on “Stormy Weather.” But the trade-offs Bennett enjoys with King and Charles are priceless, and the Joel duet is surprisingly effective. On the whole, this is yet another entry in Bennett’s lengthening series of autumnal recorded triumphs. (by William Ruhlmann)

Personnel:
Harry Allen (saxophone)
Tony Bennett (vocals)
Clayton Cameron (drums)
Paul Langosch (bass)
Mike Melvoin (organ)
Gray Sargent (guitar)
Ralph Sharon (piano)
+
Ray Charles – Natalie Cole – Sheryl Crow – Billy Joel – B.B. King – Diana Krall – K.D.Lang -Bonnie Raitt – Kay Starr – Stevie Wonder – Judy Garland

Tracklist:
01. Alright, Okay, You Win (with Diana Krall) (Watts/Wyche) 3.31
02. Everyday (I Have the Blues) (with Stevie Wonder) (Chatman) 3.39
03. Don’t Cry Baby (Bernie/Johnson/Unger) 2.43
04. Good Morning Heartache (with Sheryl Crow) (Drake/Fisher/Higginbotham) 4.56
05. Let The Good Times Roll (with B.B. King) (Moore/Theard) 3.14
06. Evenin’ (with Ray Charles) (Parish/White) 4.15
07. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues (with Bonnie Raitt) (Arlen/Koehler) 3.55
08. Keep The Faith, Baby (with K.D. Lang) (de Jesus/Lerner/Watts) 3.52
09. Old Count Basie Is Gone (Old Piney Brown Is Gone) (Turner) 3.25
10. Blue And Sentimental (with Kay Starr) (Basie/David/Livingston) 3.21
11. New York State Of Mind (with Billy Joel) (Joel) 4.31
12. Undecided Blues (Rushing) 3.18
13. Blues In The Night (Arlen/Mercer) 3.34
14. Stormy Weather (with Natalie Cole) (Arlen/Koehler) 4.34
15. Playin’ With My Friends (Cray/Walker) 4.50
+
16. I Left My Heart In San Francisco (with Judy Garland) (Cory/Cross) 3.08

*
**

 

Diana Krall feat. The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra – Christmas Songs (2005)

Christmas Songs is the eighth studio album by Canadian singer Diana Krall, performed with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. It was released on October 26, 2005 by Verve Records. This is Krall’s first full-length album of Christmas songs (not counting her 1998 EP Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas), and her first studio album with a big band. The album was released on vinyl for the first time on October 14, 2016. (by wikipedia)

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. (by Matt Collar)

Personnel:
Diana Krall (piano, vocals)
+
The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra:
Rick Baptist (trumpet)
William Barnhart (trombone)
George Bohanon (trombone)
Gilberto Castellanos (trumpet)
Jeff Clayton (saxophone, flute)
Sal Cracchiolo (trumpet)
David Duke (french horn)
Keith Fiddmont (saxophone, clarinet)
Jeff Hamilton (drums)
Robert Hurst (bass)
Clay Jenkins (trumpet)
Tommy Johnson (tuba)
Joe Meyer (french horn)
Ira Nepus (trombone)
Charles Owens (saxophone, clarinet)
Joe Porcaro (percussion)
Ryan Porter (trombone)
Adam Schroeder (saxophone, clarinet)
Rick Todd (french horn)
Brad Warnaar (french horn)
Anthony Wilson (guitar)
Rickey Woodard (saxophone solos, clarinet)
+
Gerald Clayton (piano on 07.)
Tamir Hendelman (piano on 10, + 11.)

Tracklist:
01. Jingle Bells (Pierpont) 3:26
02. Let It Snow (Styne/Cahn) 4.02
03. The Christmas Song (Tormé/Wells) 4.24
04. Winter Wonderland (Bernard/Smith) 3.15
05. I’ll Be Home For Christmas (Gannon/Kent/Ram) 3.08
06. Christmas Time Is Here (Guaraldi/Mendelson) 3.35
07. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Coots/Gillespie) 2.54
08. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Blane/Martin) 4.19
09. White Christmas (Berlin) 4.32
10. What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve (Loesser) 4.10
11. Sleigh Ride (Anderson/Parish) 3.26
12. Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep (Berlin) 3.41

*
**

 

Diana Krall – All For You – A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio (1996)

All for You – A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio is the third studio album by Canadian singer Diana Krall. It was released on March 12, 1996 by Impulse! Records and GRP Records in tribute to the Nat King Cole Trio.

Pianist/vocalist Diana Krall pays tribute to the Nat King Cole Trio on her Impulse! set. In general, the medium and up-tempo tunes work best, particularly such hot ditties as “I’m an Errand Girl for Rhythm,” “Frim Fram Sauce,” and “Hit That Jive Jack.” Krall does not attempt to directly copy Cole much (either pianistically or vocally), although his influence is obviously felt on some of the songs. The slow ballads are actually as reminiscent of Shirley Horn as Cole, particularly the somber “I’m Through With Love” and “If I Had You.” Guitarist Russell Malone gets some solo space on many of the songs and joins in on the group vocal of “Hit That Jive Jack,” although it is surprising that he had no other opportunities to interact vocally with Krall; a duet could have been delightful. Bassist Paul Keller is fine in support, pianist Benny Green backs Krall’s vocal on “If I Had You,” and percussionist Steve Kroon is added on one song. Overall, this is a tasteful effort that succeeds. (by Scott Yanow)

Nat King Cole

After buying and enjoying her next two albums (Love scenes and When I look in your eyes), this one came as a surprise to me – but what a pleasant surprise. Like Jeri Southern, a brilliant singer-pianist of an earlier generation, Diana began as a pianist but was obliged to sing as well in order to get work. On this album, recorded when Diana was still unknown, Diana’s piano is very prominent. For those who enjoy hearing Diana singing love songs, there are plenty here, but there are upbeat songs to give more variation than you will find in the other albums I mentioned.
Yet, this is all achieved with very few musicians. Russell Malone on guitar and Paul Keller on bass accompany Diana singing and playing piano. On most tracks, that’s it. Steve Kroon plays percussion on Boulevard of broken dreams, while Benny Green plays piano on If I had you, leaving Diana (for that track only) to just sing.

Diana Krall Trio

You have to be good to deliver an album of such quality with so few musicians (especially without a drummer), but Diana and her musicians prove that it can be done. While I did not find this album as instantly appealing as her next two (perhaps because it was not what I expected), it is one that grows on me each time I play it.(by  Peter Durward Harris)

Wow! Krall truly shows her piano and vocal skills on this one. She really is a genius when it comes to melding jazz and the blues. I hope she’ll do more stuff like this CD in the future. I’m so glad I got this one although I’m a bit late to the party so to speak. But, for me, this one is truly a keeper! I love to play it while having friends over for dinner. My guests have really enjoyed listening/discovering her music and talent. (by Phat Stripperon)

What a brilliant album !

Personnel:
Paul Keller (bass)
Diana Krall (vocals, piano)
Russell Malone (guitar)
+
Benny Green (piano on 12.)
Steve Kroon (percussion on 05.)

Tracklist:
01. I’m An Errand Girl For Rhythm (Cole) 2.55
02. Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good To You (Redman/Razaf) 4.07
03. You Call It Madness (Dubois/Conrad/Columbo/Gregory) 4.37
04. Frim Fram Sauce (Ricardel/Evans) 5.01
05. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams (Dubin/Warren) 6.27
06. Baby Baby All The Time (Troup) 3.36
07. Hit That Jive Jack (Alston/Tolbert) 4.16
08. You’re Looking At Me (Troup) 5.33
09. I’m Thru With Love (Malneck/Kahn/Livingston) 4.26
10. Deed I Do (Rose(Hirsch) 3.32
11. A Blossom Fell (Barnes/Cornelius/John) 5.13
12. If I Had You (Shapiro/Campbell/Connelly) 4.55
+
13. When I Grow Too Old To Dream (non-US bonus track) (Romberg/Hammerstein II) 4.35

*
**

Diana Krall – When I Look in Your Eyes (1998)

When I Look in Your Eyes is the fifth studio album by Canadian singer Diana Krall, released on June 8, 1999 by Verve Records. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year, the first time in 25 years that a jazz album was nominated in that category, and won two awards for Best Jazz Vocal and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical at the 42nd Grammy Awards. (by wikipedia)

With this CD, the young Canadian singer/pianist/arranger joins forces with producer Tommy LiPuma, who places his orchestral stamp on eight of the 13 tracks. It is the latest attempt to push Krall to an even wider pop/smooth jazz audience than she already enjoys. After all, Nat Cole, Wes Montgomery, and George Benson, among others, went this route. Wonder if she’d agree the cuts sans strings were more fun and challenging? Krall does get to it with central help from bassists John Clayton and Ben Wolfe, drummers Jeff Hamilton and Lewis Nash, and guitarist Russell Malone, all stellar players. Krall’s voice is sweet and sexy. She’s also flexible within her range and at times a bit kitschy, mostly the hopeless romantic. On this CD of love songs, it’s clear she’s cool but very much in love with this music. Bob Dorough’s “Devil May Care” and the insistent “Best Thing for You” really click. Favorites are a decent Shearing-esque “Let’s Fall in Love” with vibist Larry Bunker; a suave slow bossa on the opening number, “Let’s Face the Music”; the lusher-than-lush title track; and especially an incredible horn-fired fanfare intro/outro on the hip “Pick Yourself Up.” Some might call this fluff or mush, but it depends solely on your personal taste. This will certainly appeal to Krall’s fans, lovers, and lovers at heart. (by Michael G. Nastos)

Personnel:
John Clayton (bass)
Jeff Hamilton (drums)
Diana Krall (piano, vocals)
Russell Malone (guitar)
+
Chuck Berghofer – bass on 13
Alan Broadbent (piano on 13.)
Larry Bunker (vibraphone on 03. + 06,)
Pete Christlieb (saxophone on 13.)
Lewis Nash (drums on 06. + 08.)
Ben Wolfe (bass on 02., 06., 08. + 09.)

Tracklist:
01. Let’s Face The Music And Dance (Berlin) 5.18
02. Devil May Care (Dorough) 3.20
03. Let’s Fall In Love (Koehler/Arlen) 4.19
04. When I Look In Your Eyes (Bricusse) 4.31
05. Popsicle Toes (Franks) 4.28
06. I’ve Got You Under My Skin (Porter) 6.10
07. I Can’t Give You Anything But Love (McHugh/Fields) 2.32
08. I’ll String Along with You (Harry Warren, Al Dubin) 4.45
09. East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon) (Bowman) 4.57
10. Pick Yourself Up (Kern/Fields) 3.02
11. The Best Thing For You (Berlin) 2.37
12. Do It Again (Gershwin/DeSylva) 4.35
+
13. Why Should I Care (hidden track:) (Eastwood/Sager/Thompson-Jenner) 3.44
*
**

The Chieftains – The Wide World Over (2002)

In the Chieftains’ four decades of recording, they’ve changed labels a handful of times, and each label has seen fit to record at least one or two collections of the band’s output under their tenure. At this point they have so many best-ofs and greatest-hits compilations, it’s tough for the listener to know the best of what they’re actually hearing. New millennium — new collection: the band’s longtime label, RCA Victor, has done the Celtic community a favor by releasing a collection that deals more with the band’s journey through their different phases as opposed to trying to reassemble a hits package. The end result is almost like listening to a radio station that only plays Chieftains songs. There are some live tracks, their countrified romp through “Cotton-Eyed Joe”; Van Morrison’s adult-contemporary “Shenandoah”; an unusual introduction of the bandmembers in Chinese; appearances from Sting, Diana Krall, and Art Garfunkel; and a couple of new recordings. The breezy cover of “Morning Has Broken” fares better than the hybridized “Redemption Song” (in fact, it’s a challenge to think of any instances of a successful Celtic/reggae alloy). The album will be enjoyed by Chieftains fans as a fun collection of songs they have never heard back-to-back before, and those looking for a greatest-hits collection will have plenty of other places to look. (by Zac Johnson)

Personnel:
Derek Bell (cláirseach, oboe, keyboards, tiompán, vocals)
Kevin Conneff (bodhrán, vocals)
Martin Fay (fiddle, bones, vocals)
Seán Keane (fiddle, tin whistle, vocals)
Matt Molloy (flute, tin whistle, vocals)
Paddy Moloney (uilleann pipes, tin whistle, button accordion, bodhrán, vocals)
+
Anúna (vocals)
Jean Butler (dancer)
Ry Cooder (electric guitar, mandocello)
Elvis Costello (vocals)
Art Garfunkel (vocals)
Diana Krall (vocals, piano)
Ziggy Marley (vocals, guitar, percussion)
Joni Mitchell (vocals)
Van Morrison (vocals)
Carlos Nunez (bagpipe)
Sinéad O’Connor (vocals)
Linda Ronstadt (vocals)
Ricky Skaggs (vocals)
Don Was (percussion)
+
Belfast Harp Orchestra
Chinese Ensemble
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra conducted by Erich Kunzel
Los Lobos
The Corrs
The Rolling Stones

Tracklist:
01. March Of The King Of Laois (Traditional) 4.25
02. The Foggy Dew (feat: Sinéad O’Connor) (Traditional) 5.01
03. I Know My Love (feat: The Corrs) (Traditional) 3.27
04. Cotton-Eyed Joe (feat: Ricky Skaggs) (Traditional) 2.45
05. The Magdalene Laundries (feat: Joni Mitchell) (Mitchell) 4.57
06. Live from Matt Molloy’s Pub (Traditional) 2.21
07. Shenandoah (feat: Van Morrison) (Traditional) 3.52
08. The Munster Cloak (Traditional) 6.12
09. Morning Has Broken (feat: Art Garfunkel / Diana Krall) (Traditional) 2.55
10. Morning Dew /Women Of Ireland (P.Moloney) 2.57
11. Mo Ghile Mear (feat: Sting) (P.Moloney/Traditional) 3.20
12. Carolan’s Concerto (feat: Belfast Harp Orchestra) (Traditional) 3.02
13. Guadalupe (feat: Los Lobos / Linda Ronstadt) (Traditional) 3.31
14. Full Of Joy (feat: Chinese Ensemble) (Traditional) 3.24
15. Here’s A Health To The Company (Traditional) 3.03
16. Chasing the Fox (feat: Erich Kunzel / Cincinnati Pops Orchestra) (P.Moloney/ Traditional) 4.11
17. Long Journey Home (Anthem) (feat: Anúna / Elvis Costello) (Costello/P.Moloney) 3.20
18. The Rocky Road To Dublin (feat: The Rolling Stones) (Traditional) 4.17
19. Redemption Song (feat: Ziggy Marley) (B.Marley) 4.22

*
**