The Look of Love

by

Diana Krall

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I usually will not add my review if a CD or book or video has already lots of reviews. I mean: what is left to say?

I felt, however, after reading about 20 reviews of Diana Krall's new THE LOOK OF LOVE that I wanted to write what is obviously a minority point of view. I LOVED this album. It reminded me of the Frank Sinatra "theme" albums like "Only The Lonely" where all the songs on the disc were of one mood. Here is Krall singing one gorgeous love song after another, accompanying herself, as always, on the piano with a small jazz combo and backed by a studio orchestra and the London Symphony. The orchestrations are lush, the sound on the CD is terrific and Krall is singing like I've never heard her sing. Every number is tops and done in Krall's signature throaty, sexy, husky style.

I especially enjoyed Schwartz and Dietz's "Dancing in the Dark" which is, in my opinion, one of the finest pop songs of all time and which cannot be allowed to be forgotten. Since the horrors of September 11, alot of songs with first rate lyrics take on all new meanings and here is a song which says, "We're waltzing in the wonder of why we're here/Time hurries by/We're here and gone."

This is a cuddle by the fireside with someone you love album. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

I have been a Krall fan since '93 when a Canadian friend sent me a tape of her first release. As a jazz guitarist and fan of jazz piano and vocals I loved her from the start..putting her in the league of early Nat Cole,Shirley Horn, Carmen Mcrae and Sarah Vaughn. While she wasnt a truly great singer....her voice really worked because of her phrasing, emotional feel, swing and the swinging piano she played extremely well. When I finally saw what she looked like, I knew she could be marketed to a very broad audience (I'm also a marketing consultant and former music executive). I only hoped she would NOT succumb to the same fates as Nat Cole, Wes Montgomery and George Benson, fine jazzers who became so marginalized by the music industry they became essentially pop musicians, and in my view lost the feel that made them stand out initially.

All that said, this is what Diana Krall has been pushed towards on this disc. It started somewhat on her last outing but seems to be virtually complete with this one. Sad thing is she sounds like she knows it..at least subconsciously. Her performance is often lacking in emotion, depth and her piano is virtually invisible. The accompaniment is superb from a pop perspective but boring from a jazz perspective...the instrumental performances seem to be deliberately mainstream....her guitarists especially lack the jazz feel of the past even though one was on her early records. The solid jazz feel of Peter Bernstein and early Russell Malone were solid secondary instruments to Kralls piano....not true here.

Bottom line....this is an ok pop disc and NOT a jazz disc at all. Its only a so-so Diana Krall CD and misrepresents her real abilities. I have seen her live 3x and she is great, funny, plays a hell of a piano and can sing with the best jazz singers..but this disc doesnt do it.I think its a loss to jazz lovers but also to music lovers as her performance suffers in this context.....she doesnt sound like she is sining from the heart....and she has the heart of a true jazz musician.

Krall is one of the few jazzers who can make a jazz record and have it really sell...ie. make a real living from it. This is a real issue for her and most jazz players and the true economics behind the push to pop from her record company...its also the art of music being subordinated to the "product" of commerce.

Maybe her next release should be a live trio or quartet date from a small intimate club....she probably doesnt play that way much anymore but it is where she shines. Maybe a charity date with a select audience....taped for later release?