Diana Krall - Live in Paris
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Free Music Notes for Live in Paris
Free Music Review: Excellent Uninhibited Jazz
Hit: 5 Stars
For all her technical skill, excellent vocals and wonderful phrasing and timing with lyrics, the one criticism that could be levelled against Diana Krall in recent times is her lack of swing. Perhaps as a result of being over-marketed as a sultry Jazz sensation, her recent albums have featured arrangements which are frankly slow at best or crawling at funeral paces for the more critical, particularly on her last album "The Look Of Love". This live album, her first, could not have come at a better time. Clearly uninhibited and given free reign the result is a wonderful jazz performance.The programme on this CD is nothing startling - full of standards, ballads and bossa nova favourites but Diana Krall's vibrant contra-alto is perfectly suited for all of them. What is good is that Krall seems so comfortable with the programme, having done most of these songs on studio albums before that she able to let loose more than in a studio setting. There is a distinct sense of a little whimsy in her "Fly Me To The Moon" and a sense fun in her renditions of "Devil may Care" and "I Love Being Here With You"
The standard of playing on this album is excellent throughout. There is also a lot more room for improvisation on these tracks with the chance for some extended musical solos which show the technical grace and musical acumen of both Krall as well as her backing band.
When all is said and done, this is an excellent CD. It showcases the premiere jazz vocalist of today with superb accompaniment at her show-stopping best. Highly Recommended.
Free Music Review: Great Performance!
Hit: 5 Stars
This one took me by surprise. I loved her "When I look into your Eyes" CD but found her last effort "the Look of Love" to be a bit less than stellar (although still good).... it had a few nice songs but also some things that just didn't stay with me over time and thus found its way hidden in my stack of music. This live CD just knocked my socks off. The same songs I liked on her last CD appear here with, in my opinion, FAR stronger arrangements. As an added bonus, she plays piano quite a bit more as well and there is less focus on the orchestra. Both "Look of Love" and "S'Wonderful" are just **outstanding** to the highest degree on the live CD, far far eclipsing the already decent versions on the studio CD preceeding this one. As for the others, not really a dud in the bunch. I've never had the luck to see Diana Krall live, but after hearing this one, I sure wish to hell I had. The "studio" track of Billy Joels classic "Just the way you are" that she stuck onto the CD ain't bad either, and seeing how often I've heard that song that is saying something.
Bottom line: Highly, highly recommended, especially for those of you who thought her last effort missed some of the feel of her earlier work. Recording quality is quite nice and natural too; maybe not up to the studio stuff, but definitely the usual high standards from Schmitt, LiPuma and mastering engineer Doug Sax.
Free Music Review: Krall & Company nail it - LIVE
Hit: 5 Stars
A live musical performance can be one of two things. If you know the artist by only their studio efforts, when you see them live it might be a major disappointment (there's no special wiz-bang effects to cover up their "real" sub-par sound). On the flip side, seeing & hearing them live might turn your opinion around and think "Wow... this is better than I thought!" Diana Krall's "Live In Paris" follows the latter thought... THIS IS GOOD STUFF. Gone is the slick production and tweaked voice-overs that you'd find on her studio albums. The background orchestra here is minimal (I found they were too much and almost took something away from Krall's "The Look Of Love"). "Live In Paris" takes you overseas to a stage with torch-singer-queen Krall on her piano accompanied by her crew... Clayton on bass, Hamilton on drums and Pisano on guitar. Jazz is playing a song with feeling mixed with a bit of improvisation. You'll find that here. These songs are done with style and any of the great composers or singers (Nat King Cole, Jimmy Rowles, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee) would be proud the way Krall represents them here in live form. Check out songs, "I've Got You Under My Skin", "S'Wonderful", "Fly Me To The Moon", and "Let's Fall In Love"... actually all are good - no filler here. This disc gets better with repeated spins. If you're a Krall fan, this CD is essential.Free Music Review: Kick off your shoes, put on this CD, and relax.
Hit: 5 Stars
I was introduced to Diana Krall when a friend of mine recommended "Love Scenes," and I have been hooked on Diana's laid-back, slick, vaguely retro voice ever since. "Live in Paris" is by far my favorite of her albums. While the DVD features several more songs than does this CD--"Pick Yourself Up" and "All or Nothing" come to mind--the CD is still perfect for setting a causal, intimate vibe (during car trips, get-togethers, or quiet evenings at home with a good book and a glass of wine). In fact, the range of moods Diana sets with her smoldering voice make "Live in Paris" appropriate for a variety of occasions; "I Love Being Here With You" features a lively, hopping rhythm section, "East of the Sun" is playful swing, and Diana's cover of Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You" is given a new, meloncholic texture with her deep voice and tinkling piano work. The charm of "Live in Paris" does not lie in the touch-ups of any producers, but in the subtle performance Diana gives, along with the tight-as-clockwork jazz ensemble backing her up. This is a disc that can be played for years and still sound fresh. Fans of Norah Jones; Harry Connick, Jr.; or Natalie Cole will surely enjoy this treat, as will any lover of well-crafted music with a jazzy bend.
Free Music Review: The LAST Great Krall Album???
Hit: 5 Stars
I cannot praise this album more than the postive reviews have already done here. Its simply a modern and classic breath of fresh air. I listened to this album 3 times tonight... and it is genuinely breathtaking. Unfortunately, with her newest CD now out and its pop bland nature clear, this may be the last of the great Krall albums. Here she is an artist who studied intonation, expression and passion, before selling out.On the newest CD "Girl in the Other Room", she has bent her art to her pop husbands wishes and released an album that is depressing, whining and bland beyond measure. It is obvious that she has now allowed herself to be marketted to the less demanding and ultimately fickle pop audience that will enjoy her until they spit her out... and her loyal jazz fans will not come back. DO NOT JUDGE KRALL BY THAT ALBUM.... keep the faith and let's hope she comes back to the enduring and classic sound of the music heard here on "Live in Paris".
BUY this album, OR "Look of Love", "Dancing in the Dark", "Love Scenes" or any of her previous efforts if you want to know what truly beautiful and timeless music can sound like from a woman who IS TALENTED and can create art with her subtile and delicate voice. This album is wonderful!!