I Dream of Christmas

As one of the most prominent jazz-pop singers of the modern era, it's a bit surprising that Norah Jones hasn't released a Christmas album before now. Her music has always had a sense of style and class, so perhaps she was waiting until she'd written a batch of seasonal material strong enough to go up against standards like Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" and Vince Guaraldi's "Christmas Time Is Here." On I Dream of Christmas, her eighth studio album, she offers both. Tucked amid elegant arrangements of the two aforementioned standards are crafty Jones originals like "Christmas Calling (Jolly Jones)" and "It's Only Christmas Once a Year," each one built to last more than one season. Sung in her intimate, relaxed style, bluesy riffs on the Chipmunks' "Christmas Don't Be Late" and Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas" take on new life, while "I'll Be Home for Christmas" has never sounded quite so sultry. The original "You're Not Alone" is a timeless bit of Yuletide gospel soul that goes shoulder to shoulder with the reliably evergreen "I'll Be Home for Christmas." Playful, cozy, and effortlessly low-key, I Dream of Christmas has all the hallmarks of a seasonal staple. ~ Timothy Monger