Maybe so, but Diana`s new Christmas Songs, I`m willing to bet, won`t go down that road. Irrelevant chestnuts such as “Jingle Bells,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Sleigh Ride” and “Let it Snow” sparkle with Krall`s playful treatment, which includes a couple little surprise lines. Krall`s vocals on this set are some of her most inspired yet. Maybe a future album will showcase her spectacular musicianship but here, her piano is part of the orchestra, albeit a standout with, among other things, an amazing flourish on “Jingle Bells.”

Aside from being the only CD where she fronts a big band, what really powers it past New Year`s is Diana Krall doing what nobody does better than she: pulling you into her own personal space with the intimacy and deep, rich character of her gorgeous voice. She has made so many songs her own this way and now “Count Your Blessings” (which certainly is appropriate any time of year) can be counted among those. “Christmas Time is Here” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” have been there, in my view, since the 1998 import album. (These are the same versions; “Jingle Bells,” however, is a fresh cut.)

Certainly, the jacket shows more calf than your average Christmas CD. But then, this is not an inspirational work in the religious sense. You get your inspiration your way, I`ll get mine my way. It`s probably impossible to produce a photograph of this woman sans sex appeal, so why try? With a tiny bit of imagination, the liner photos really suggest a little storyline to “What Are You Doing New Year`s Eve.”