Christmas Time Is Here
Jazz singer Dianne Reeves has created one of the tastiest holiday jazz records in recent memory. Ripe with emotional transformations and musical innovation, Reeves takes you on a winter sleigh ride rich with an acute sense of phrasing and a warm, range that will captivate. You won't immediately recognize most of the dozen standards here since Reeves and a smart group, led by pianist Peter Martin, revise and deconstruct the holiday staples that range from "Christmas Time Is Here" to "Christ Child's Lullaby" (the former delivered like a torchy love song, the latter a delicate folk arrangement framed by a string section). This singer's singer takes such delight in singing in and out of melody lines and pushing a phrase above, below and sometimes beyond that she sweeps you up into her flights of fancy and finesse. Just listen to her change "The Christmas Waltz" into a rhythmic wonder. The reward for owning this disc once the ornaments and the rest of the CDs go back in the attic? You get to keep this one out and play it all year round.--Martin Keller