Diana Krall - The Look Of Love
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Free Music Notes for The Look Of Love
Free Music Review: Music That Touch You
Hit: 5 Stars
True jazz lovers argue that Krall only has reached such a high popularity, as she indeed has, thanks to a shrewd marketing. That argument could be used just as effectively on singers like Norah Jones. As for Krall, she has a soft and sexy voice that appeals to many mainstream listeners who aren't concerned so much about jazz and how she plays the piano.The marketing people behind Diana Krall's music is of course tempted to polish and popularize the music as much as possible. As is seen at once when looking on the cover of _The Look Of Love_, this is what they have done. The album begins with S'Wonderful played with bossa nova rhytms and a laid back vocal. The whole album is actually very much inspired by bossa nova, which provides a romantic atmosphere - again suiting Krall's looks and voice and the many listeners.
On Krall's first albums, _Stepping Out_, _Only Trust Your Heart_, and _All For You_, the romantic atmosphere is somewhat missing. The marketing wasn't so much aware of her commercial oppertunities that they regulated her own sound. The albums as a result sound more raw, resulting in more piano from Krall and more jazz-like compositions and atmosphere. What i miss, though, when hearing her earlier work, is exactly what _The Look Of Love_ has to offer: the richness of the sound, the polished sound quality, the not so jazz-like songs etc. The intro on I Get Along Without You Very Well for instance, is beautiful and heartbreaking. So is all other songs on the album. I understand people's objections to Krall's music, but at the same time I feel that the music is gripping, moving, meaningful and whatever words there is to express good music.
Free Music Review: The Unsung Hero in Diana Krall's "The Look of Love"
Hit: 5 Stars
I've read a lot of reviews on this CD and absolutely no one has bothered to acknowledge the obvious: a popular singer needs to surround themselves with great arrangers. After all, that's what Sinatra did. Unlike other comments I've read on this particular album, I'm here to state that the bulk of this album has Diana Krall not performing with a small group, but instead in a lush setting with a full string orchestra which delivers some sexy and sultry bossa nova arrangements. These arrangements could have only been written by the master of such arrangements, Claus Ogerman. Just listen to those extended endings on "Love Letters" and "Dancing in the Dark" if you want to hear arranging and musicality at its finest.There have been critics who have panned the arrangements of "S'Wonderful" and "Besame Mucho" as not new because Claus also used them (to great success) on Joao Gilberto's "Amoroso" album in 1977. Still, Diana has put her own mark on these songs even though they are the same orchestral arrangements Claus did several decades ago. They are absolutely timeless, so nothing about either track sounds dated.
There simply isn't much not to like on this album if you are 1) a fan of Diana Krall; 2) a fan of bossa nova; 3) a fan of fine musical standards and 4) a fan of Claus Ogerman.
Diana did a very smart thing in wanting to work with Claus and have him do the arrangements for this album. It's to her credit and thanks to her excellent judgment, she may have just introduced a whole new audience and even a couple of generations to the talents of Mr. Ogerman.
--bj
January 2003
Free Music Review: Personally, I wish this had been a two-volume set.
Hit: 5 Stars
I have all of Ms. Krall's superb recordings but I believe TLOL outshines everything she did before. I've listened to the album probably 100 times in the last eight months. It's heady, mood-altering music. At the end of a long, maybe rotten, day, the opening notes of "S' Wonderful" sink in like that first sip of scotch. Krall's haughty cover of "Cry Me a River" makes Julie London sound like Julie Andrews. I've loved the London version since I was a teen but I bought "A Touch of Class" just to compare and it's true. At times, I wish Spanish were my native tongue so I could appreciate what must be a sexy Canadian-accented "Besame Mucho." (Remember how cool Astrud Gilberto sounded on "The Girl from Ipanema?")
Matters of taste aside, here are some facts to consider before purchasing this album:
*Jazz Twits: if your thing is listening to "risky," "offensive" treatments and other silliness, this CD won't look good in your collection. It's for entertainment purposes only.
*The ten tracks do have similar arrangements but the melodies are all distinct. Sameness, per se, is not bad. Check out "The Intimate Ella" for an example of 13 identical arrangements.
*The orchestra does not drown out the singer, reviews to the contrary. Krall's voice is characteristically so clear and prominent that you can hear intimate vocal sounds. (The production won Al Schmitt a Grammy for engineering.)
*Soothing, down-tempo bosas may not be for all the people, all the time. Reasonable people understand this and move on. Personally, I wish this had been a two-volume set.
Free Music Review: The new DK recording IS wonderful...
Hit: 5 Stars
Diana Krall has been my very favorite for years and a lot of the time, I prefer her up-tempo numbers. But there are those essential times when I need "The Look of Love." Negative reviews notwithstanding, Diana, please do another similar recording anytime! Certainly, one has to be in a mood and setting to appreciate this intensely dreamy and mesmerizing album. It's not going to do much for you while you work in the garage, or play with the kids. See, the title is sort of a tip-off: experience this recording with your mate/date over a quiet, romantic dinner, say. Or, best, alone with Diana (a nice thought) over headphones turned up, without your mate/date. Later, if you're still in the mood for something jazzy, you can always put on "A Tisket, a Tasket" (or both) when you do the dishes.
When she invites you to "Besame Mucho," you can't resist the urge to. It's obvious to me now that Krall, as torch singer, would have been the one, after so many decades, to put forth a cover of "Cry Me a River" the equal of Julie London's great version. (Sorry, Joe Cocker.) Those two pieces, alone, are worth the price of the album in my opinion but the other selections are grabbing hold more with each playing.
Her piano is minimal, elegant and altogether appropriate for the exquisite arrangements. Krall's allure, for me, comes from her piano and that deep sensual voice, at once icy cool and warmly intimate. With this album I sense that there is even more to the voice and the performer than I previously experienced.
Free Music Review: A Delightful Slice of Kralliana
Hit: 5 Stars
What can we say about Diana Krall that hasn't been said? She's beautiful and talented and has a way with a song. "The Look of Love" only further adds to the opinion that she is one of the more accomplished artists of our time. Her new CD shows her growth as an artist by venturing where she has not gone before.Rather than stick with studio musicians, Diana enlists the help of the London Symphony Orchestra. Her voice blends pertectly with the muscianship and gives this CD a classical feel. Diana shows her ability to handle all kinds of music, from the Latin-tinged "Besame Mucho" (remember when the Beatles did this one?), to the more traditonal "S'Wonderful.". Other symphony-influenced pieces are are "The Night We Called It a Day", "Cry Me a River" and "Dancing in the Dark".
Diana has always been a big fan of the great composers and she offers us the work of a wide variety. Bachrach and David's title track, Hoagy Carmichael's "I Get Along Very Well Without You", Johnny Mercer's "I Remember You" are all standouts.
Diana's voice has also remarkably improved (not that it wes bad before!.) It's much softer and smoother, which fits in beautifully with the tone of this CD.
"The Look of Love" is a must buy for Krallaniacs everywhere. But now that you discovered Diana Krall, check out some other great artists like Jane Monheit, Tierney Sutton, the late great Susannah McCorkle and of course, the one, the only, the incomparable Jacqui Naylor.