For years singer-pianist Diana Krall has been bringing new
lifeblood to jazz via her dual knockout talents. And while her
later recordings reveal a consistently maturing artist, this
1992 debut album shows that the Nanaimo, British Columbia,
native had the goods right from the get-go. In her mid-20s
here, Krall sings with honesty, subtlety, and persuasion while
playing the piano with head-shaking authority, both as
accompanist--she offers amazing asides in between vocal
phrases--and as an absolutely A-one improviser. Indeed,
it is remarkable to hear her weave her gifts into a wondrous
whole. Working with bass ace John Clayton and the superb
drummer Jeff Hamilton, Krall presents one winner after another.
"This Can't Be Love" is typical, a selection where it is all
but impossible not to tap your foot. After a nicely enunciated
vocal--she slides into phrases much like Sarah Vaughan--the
pianist cooks in her Oscar Peterson-meets-Gene Harris style,
playing hip ideas that fall easily on the ear, underwritten by
her rock-solid feel for time. "As Long as I Live" is another
example of Krall's ability to sing and swing a standard with
a nonstop groove. "Straighten Up and Fly Right" is slower and
features a deeply bluesy vocal; "I'm Just a Lucky So and So"
is equally sultry. The classic ballad "Body and Soul" finds her
singing with intimacy and playing with a caressing touch. A
very impressive start for a very impressive artist.
Copyright Amazon.com, 1999
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