R&B singer Ledisi grew up in New Orleans before moving to Oakland as a young teen, and she’ll return to New Orleans to perform a free Christmas concert Sunday at 7 p.m. at Dillard. I interviewed Ledisi about her new Christmas album, It’s Christmas (Verve Forecast). On it, she gets guest appearances from George Duke, Keb’ Mo’ and Christian Scott, who adds trumpet to “What a Wonderful World.” We bemoaned the generally sad state of Christmas albums – not Christmas songs but albums, along with the structure of the album, which mirrored the structure of her family’s Christmas day. Here are the highlights:

Ledisi: I loved the Jackson 5 CD; it’s my favorite one. [She sings the Jackson 5’s “Give Love on Christmas Day” on the album.] “Give Love” is in the original key, the Michael Jackson key. We only had three days to record so we did everything like the old days where you record the band and vocal together and everybody can see each other. I said, “I don’t know if I can hit these notes,” but the microphone sounded so good that I felt like superwoman. I can sing anything! But after each take, I took a breather.

We recorded it in three days in July, so they put Christmas tree lights an stuff up while we were recording to make it seem like it was winter, then we’d go outside and it was burning up. [The album was largely recorded in Los Angeles.]

Is it hard to write a Christmas song?

I thought it would be, but it turned out to be the most fun ever. All you have to do is think like a little kid and think fun the whole time. I have a blast writing with other people. Rex [Rideout} and I were trying to figure out the rhythm of “Be There for Christmas.” I said, “You have to dance,” and I had these mind images of my family doing their high school dances from the ’60s and ’70s. “The butt has to move like this.” I had to jump around and dance until the rhythm was right. And we listened to older records. “It has to have this vibe.” So we were jumping around on a Christmas vibe in the studio.

“This Christmas” – Lorenzo Johnson, one of my producers, he said, “You’ve got to do this.” I said, “No, I’m going for this whole retro vibe. I wrote it for the troops, and it’s not finished.” He said, “Finish it,” and it was the last song I sang of the three day session. I was so tired and so emotional, and it turned out to be one of the most beautiful songs of the album.

Is it hard to get in the mood to sing Christmas songs in July?

Not for me, not with all the inspiration we had, with Christmas lights up and cookies every night. But then you go home and it’s hot!

Why make a Christmas album?

It started out as a four-song EP for iTunes for Christmas time, then get started on the next record. It ended up being a full-length album because we decided, “We can get this done.” I had three days off. How were we going to get an album done in three days? This was bananas! We sat down – my manager and Rex Rideout – and we wrote out the songs and I said, “This looks easy.” Maaaan, those three days came and all the scheduling, getting everybody there, singing the tracks – but the band made it so easy.

I think it was a good idea. I had fun recording it. I think it was quicker because we had our concepts down. I love how organic it all came about. Everything’s live on there except for one keyboard that George Duke did. And I always wanted to all the styles of music that I love. They used to do that in the ’60s and ’70s when Stevie Wonder would go from country to R&B to pop; we’re so into genres now that you have to be only one thing on one record.

One of my theories on why Christmas music is so enduring is because of the melodies. Was that the case for you?

Most definitely. I always loved “Silent Night” and “la di da, di dah; la di da, di dah” [“Christmas Time is Here” from The Charlie Brown Christmas]. You can hum those songs and they make you feel better. They’re infectious. But I also love the lyrics. On “Give Love …,” the lyrics get me all the time.

Are there Christmas songs you passed on or couldn’t get together?

Everyone said just do the standards. One of my producers suggested, “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,” and I said, “Noooo, I don’t want to do that. Someone else will come out with that. I didn’t want to pick the same old songs. Here’s my version of Christmas.

Is it hard to figure out how to make these songs yours?

No, it was like breathing. I surprised myself. I’m a rhythmic singer; I love the drums. I can do a whole so with just the drums, so it all starts with the rhythm for me. Christmas songs need more life for me, they should always be slow and reflective, you should have some fun with them and make them kind of soulful, and it all starts with the drums. When I did “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” I wanted it Stevie or Chaka-ish, with a different energy to it.