Krall Jazzes Up The Holidays

Singer Performs On The Early Show

(CBS)  Grammy Award-winning pianist and singer Diane Krall has just completed her first full-length Christmas album, called "Christmas Songs."

Why a Christmas album? Krall spoke with The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.

"I've been thinking about it for years because I grew up in a musical household and we had carol sings every year. I've been sort of planning it since I was a little girl, probably," she said.

The CD, featuring The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, includes classics like "Winter Wonderland" and "Jingle Bells."

"I wrote a list of the obvious songs that I knew that everybody knew," she said. "I didn't try to over think it or do anything like "Christmas on the Moon" like I sang in the school choir, a novelty tune. I still know all the words on that. So maybe on volume two."

The songs are ones she loved as a little girl. The Canadian stuck to the great American standards.

What will make her CD stand out from the others?

"Well, my favorite Christmas records are Ella Fitzgerald, jazz records, Duke Ellington. I did it like I would approach any other jazz album — it had to swing, feel good," she said. "Soul is played and I trusted John Clayton to write the arrangements. He's known me for 20 years. I just said, 'Write what you like.' And we just had a good time."

Krall is married to Elvis Costello and, last year, her album, "The Girl in the Other Room," was released to great critical acclaim. It featured six original compositions by the couple and was certified gold within two months of its April 2004 release.

So is a Krall-Costello Christmas CD in the works? Not yet, but it would certainly be something to look forward to.

Watch Krall's performance of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" on The Early Show