Diana Krall - Christmas Songs
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CD Details
Artist: Diana KrallBrand: Baker & Taylor
Orchestra: Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
Edition: Music CD
Audio: German (Published)
CD Release Date: 2005-11-01
Music Label: Verve
Product features:
- KRALL DIANA CHRISTMAS SONGS
- Jingle Bells
- Let It Snow
- The Christmas Song
- Winter Wonderland
- I'll Be Home For Christmas
- Christmas Time Is Here
- Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
- White Christmas
- What Are You Doing New Year's Eve
- Sleigh Ride
- Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep
Music reviews of Christmas Songs
Music Review: I understand the high ratings but there's much that is disappointing
Rating: 1 Stars
Much has been said in the reviews on both sides of the ratings that are dead on. I can understand why the Krall fans like this CD. But I can certainly understand the reasons for the low ratings as well. Indeed, I align myself with the low ratings as you can see. Here's my take.
Disclaimer: I am a choir director by profession. I teach secondary school and I have seven choirs: two auditioned chamber groups, an auditioned concert choir, an intermediate women's choir, a beginning men's and a beginning women's choir, and a jazz ensemble. I've been teaching for 13 years in the public sector and directing church choirs for 30.
Of course, I'm very much into classical music, but I grew up listening to jazz, was a percussionist in high school and played the traps in jazz band. (And I love rock 'n roll, too!) And I repeat, I do have a jazz choir. My group has been to jazz festivals and adjudicated by the likes of legend Don Shelton, Phil Mattson, Jennifer Shelton Barnes, and Gene Aitkin. Also by Clockwork Orange, M-Pact, Kerry Marsh, and a host of other West Coast biggies in jazz.
I believe that the general populace is becoming more musically illiterate and along with that, becoming unable to judge what is truly good music and what is not and what is good talent/skill and what is not. (Well, I say I "believe" but given my profession and dealing on a daily basis with developing students and their parents I *know* first hand that musical literacy is on the decline.) Take "American Idol" for example. The best skilled musicians and artists are often voted off the show, leaving the most popular (as in "pop" music) to win.
Now, you may be calling me just another one of those "music snobs."
Justifiably maybe so, but I'm just a musician who started at an early age and has grown up to know and appreciate good music, good art, and good musicianship. Diana Krall's first CD's were great. But there is danger in being a "cross-over" artist. Which master do you serve? And by serving two masters, can you do well in both? (I'm talking about true cross-over, not releasing two different genres a la genius Marsalis.)
This CD, when looking from a jazz perspective, is definitely lackluster. Jazz aside, there is no spirit or soul or excitement to the performance. My all-of-14-year-old jazz soloist prodigy even noticed this (without any prompting from me) and told me that she didn't like "White Christmas" and [Krall] sounded "bored."
I feel that some of her stylistic choices are somewhat contrived and doesn't feel like natural jazz. Taking "White Christmas" as example again, her attempts to swing sounds more like hiccup jerks, for lack of a precise description.
But those who like Krall for her jazz/pop sound with sultry voice definitely likes this stuff, as apparent by the ratings. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I'm better than you, just that my ear does not care for this CD from a jazz buff point of view. It is what it is and if you guys like it, that's cool by me. I know there's plenty of stuff that I like that you probably wouldn't.
Final word on the CD cover. I think it is inappropriate in two ways. First, what in the world does it have to do with Christmas Music? Nothing. It is totally out of context. Secondly, why do some female jazz or classical artists resort to sex to sell their CD's? This raises a red flag with me. Is it because their music isn't good enough to appeal to a broader audience so they have to get sexy on their covers to sell their music? Hmn-n-n, rather suspect to me.
Look, no matter what kind of music you do, you should do it with a passion, with real emotion, from the heart. That's what I try to teach my students. Just don't do the dots on the page. Anyone and even any computer can do the dots on the page. That merely becomes a mathematical and technical exercise. It takes a breathing, living, emotive artistic human being to MAKE GREAT MUSIC!
In my humble opinion, I do not think that Diana Krall makes great music on this CD.
Description of Christmas Songs
On this beautiful production by Tommy LiPuma and Al Schmidt, Diana Krall is accompanied by the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra on holiday standards.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
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