Diana Krall - Live in Paris
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Free Music Notes for Live in Paris
Free Music Review: "Let Me See What Spring Is Like On Jupiter And Mars"
Hit: 5 Stars
This CD, "Live In Paris," produced by Tommy LiPuma for Verve Records is one of my favorite Diana Krall CDs. It won the most-coveted award for "Best Jazz Vocal Album" at the 2002 Grammy Awards. The first 11 tracks were recorded live at the Paris Olympia in 2001 and the last track "Just The Way You Are," was recorded in New York City.
What made this live recording so special to me is the inclusion of an all-time favorite song penned by Bart Howard, "Fly Me To The Moon." Diana Krall gives it a gorgeous treatment that is best possible for a live recording with the support of Anthony Wilson on guitar, John Clayton on bass and Jeff Hamilton on drums.
"Fly me to the moon
And let me play among the stars
Let me see what Spring is like
On Jupiter and Mars
In other words, hold my hand
In other words, Darling kiss me
Fill my heart with song
And let me sing forevermore"
Most of her hit songs from various albums are performed in the liveliest settings. You'll surely appreciate and enjoy "The Look of Love," "'S Wonderful," "East of the Sun (And West of the Moon") and Billy Joel's greatest song "Just The Way You Are," a song I love when it was a number one hit . . . many moons ago? And not to mention a tear-jerker of all-time, "Maybe You'll Be There," the song responsible for the expressive eyes that cried a river, and the song that produced an ocean of tears.
Two of my highlights, "Let's Fall In Love" and "I've Got You Under My Skin" features Alan Broadbent as music director/conductor with Orchestre Symphonique European.
This CD, which Diana Krall dedicates to her mother, is a testament that she is equally good at live recording with her enigmatic stage presence and a great rapport with live audience. Kudos to all her fine musicians who helped make this one of the most outstanding jazz live recordings.
This is a fabulous listen and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
Free Music Review: The Riveting, Quintessential Diana Krall
Hit: 5 Stars
Boy, am I glad I bought the "Live in Paris" CD. I was hesitant at first, because except for Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are", I already own all of DK's recordings of the songs in this set, as well as the DVD version of the concert.However, the repertoire is lovingly pared down to a well-rounded selection from the original nearly two-hour performance. And without the visual distraction of watching gorgeous Diana in person, it hit me how much more punch the live versions pack over the pristine-perfect studio versions. That's not to say the live sound quality isn't extraordinary: it is. But Diana's delivery itself is so intense, focused, and emotional, it's truly like hearing the songs for the first time. In particular, "A Case of You" and "Maybe You'll Be There" are so heartfelt, direct, just this side of the tragic, even the ever-so-slight silent beats speak volumes. These renditions alone would be worth the price of the CD. But every song is is stunning and exciting.
"Live in Paris" epitomizes the skill that Diana brings to music interpretation that is so lacking in today's bellowing, acrobatic "American Idol" approach, where all the lyrical meaning is obliterated to Kingdom Come.
I have some pop-music enthusiast friends who are perplexed by Diana's ingratiation into mainstream pop. They find her "scotch and wild honey" contralto too unlike the current acceptable music trends. They just don't get it! Listening to DK is like sitting across from her at a table in an intimate cafe while she confides all of life's intimacies. Then she turns around and sets your heart pounding with an up-tempo number like "East of the Sun" or "Devil May Care".
If you were like me and held off on buying "Live in Paris" because you thought you had it all, here is all that and more. Do yourself a favor and get it. As they say in Paree, it's the creme de la creme.
Free Music Review: The Pianist Is HERE!!
Hit: 5 Stars
LIVE IN PARIS reveals what Diana Krall fans have known for quite some time: that in addition to being an exquisite vocal interpreter, she is even better on piano.
The opening track I LOVE BEING HERE WITH YOU (composed by another great vocalist-composer, Peggy Lee and William Schluger), delivers a swing that was last heard on Krall's earlier recording "ALL FOR YOU-A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio". Krall is a Cole-descendant of the highest order and displays her piano virtuosity throughout this set.
The Nat King Cole Trio chestnut "DEVIL MAY CARE" begins with a
mid-tempo and rather intricate piano intro that eases into a decidedly up-tempo crossbreeding of Bop and Swing. This particular piece delivers a virtuoso and substantial guitar solo by Anthony Wilson, followed by Krall's throbbing performance on piano, followed by Jeff Hamilton's rigorous drum solo, all backed by Paulinho DaCosta's percussion and John Clayton's bass. This piece, as all of the selections on this CD, are improvements over many of her original studio recordings, which may say more about Record Company Executive meddling than Krall's own particular preferences. Although Krall remains superb here as a vocalist, there is more of her on piano-a refreshing shift from her other recordings that focus primarily on her smokey vocals.
Nat King Cole's piano playing influenced several generations of musicians, but only Jazz enthusiasts truly celebrate and indulge themselves in the stellar recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio where Nat made the piano keys talk! While no one with ears can complain about Cole's rich vocal ability, his singing eventually eclipsed his unique piano technique; LIVE IN PARIS is the recording that may prevent Krall from a similar fate. Krall, the pianist, is HERE! And the pianist delivers plenty!
Free Music Review: Warning: A review by a non-jazz fan
Hit: 5 Stars
I should start this review by saying that I am not a jazz fan. I like a little bit every now and then, but I could never build a huge jazz collection. I listen to rock and other popular music-- everything from the Beatles to the Clash to the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Tori Amos. However, I came across this Diana Krall CD when I became interested in jazz music thanks to Joni Mitchell. Joni's albums of the '70s are heavily influenced by jazz. I loved them all, so I began looking for other female vocal jazz performers. It was in this way that I stumbled upon Diana Krall's "Live in Paris."
I love this album. For a long time, I only listened to it occasionally and as background music (as other reviewers have described it.) However, one evening I sat down to really listen to the album and discovered that it is a veritable treasure trove of excellent music. I was captured by Diana's unique vocal style. It was beautiful, plaintive and very different from many other female vocalists I have come across. Her band was absolutely wonderful--full of energy during songs like "I Love Being Here with You" and slinking with sexuality and grit during songs like "I've Got You Under My Skin." I'm not typically a fan of "standards" such as these, but this album has enchanted me. I listen to it often in a wide variety of moods. It has become something of a security blanket for me. I encourage everyone, from jazz purists to rock fans like myself, to pick up a copy and listen to it as MUSIC and not as background noise. You will not be disappointed.
Free Music Review: I've Got Her Under My Skin
Hit: 5 Stars
I'm not sure whether to love Diana Krall for her singing or her piano playing, so I guess it'll just have to be both. Her piano playing is smooth as silk, yet very much alive, both when it's out front, as on "'Deed I Do" and "Devil May Care," and when it's subtely woven into the background, as on "The Look of Love." And her voice? Appropriately sultry and tempting on the slower songs, full of life and mischief on the more upbeat songs.
Note that the selections on this album are definitely on the classic pop side of the jazz spectrum, but then you know that if you looked at the song list at all. Thus, if you're a jazz snob -- and I say that not as an insult, but because you wear the title as a badge of honor -- this may not be the album for you. But if you enjoy Gershwin, Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, and some Burt Bacharach tunes performed by a masterful singer and pianist, you'll dig this album in a big way. My favorite song here, as if the review's title wasn't enough of a hint, is "I've Got You Under My Skin."
I should also note that while this is a live album, I was pleased to find that neither the audience nor Krall's brief interactions with it ever interfere with the music. I only mention this because live album producers sometimes put such emphasis on the "live" part that it's hard to enjoy the songs you love. Such is not the case here -- the atmosphere and audience add a richness that complements Krall's performance nicely.
Overall, I highly recommend this charming, engaging, and quietly fun album.