Home Read Classic Album Review: Diana Krall | The Look of Love

Classic Album Review: Diana Krall | The Look of Love

The Canadian singer-pianist recreates another slate of classics on her sixth album.

This came out in 2001 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):

 


Nobody is ever going to accuse Diana Krall of being on the cutting edge of jazz. And that’s OK; it’s not her job. Nor, apparently, is it her interest.

What does seem to interest the Canadian singer-pianist is recreating the classics for today’s market, and she does another fine job of it on her sixth album The Look of Love. Reteaming with longtime producer Tommy LiPuma and aided by veteran arranger Claus Ogerman, Krall handily makes her way through a set of timeless last-call ballads: George Gershwin’s S’Wonderful, Johnny Mercer’s I Remember You, Arthur Hamilton’s Cry Me a River (aka Julie London’s signature song), The Night We Called It a Day, Dancing in the Dark and, of course the Burt BacharachHal David title cut, all impeccably served up with all the urban sophistication of a cosmopolitan and the lush smoothness of satin sheets. Sure, Krall plays it pretty safe as usual. If you want cutting edge, buy some Ornette Coleman. But even if Krall isn’t changing the face of jazz, she’s giving it a face for people of this generation.

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