Live in Paris [Live]

Diana Krall | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 1, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Umvd Labels
• ASIN: B00006J9OT
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (167 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,874 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Recorded at the historic Olympia Theatre in Paris in November 2001, this is Diana Krall's first live album. Backed by her quicksilver combo of bassist John Clayton, drummer Jeff Hamilton, and guitarist John Pisano (on some tracks), Krall's jazz heritage comes through loud and clear on this program of standards, ballads, and bossa novas. On Peggy Lee's "I Love Being Here with You," Bob Dorough's "Devil May Care," and Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon," Krall's snappy, postbop piano playing shows off her debt to Nat "King" Cole and Jimmy Rowles. Her cool contralto vocals are illuminated by the Orchestre Symphonique Europeen, under the direction of Alan Broadbent, as well as the London Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Claus Ogerman. Krall's deep take on Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You" is a great choice for an encore, and the CD concludes with Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are" (a studio track from a film called The Guru), with tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker and bassist Christian McBride. This collection only hints at what Diana Krall has to offer in the future.--Eugene Holley Jr.

Product Description

KRALL DIANA LIVE IN PARIS

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 53 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Next "Must Own Jazz Classic" -- no Hype. October 4, 2002

By B. Lynch

Format:Audio CD

I know diana Krall gets her share of record company hype, but in the case of the DVD and CD here, it's actually deserved -- and therefore it really isn't "hype".

"The Look of Love" from 2001, was a bad stumble, and I guess Diana and her cohorts realized it. So they set out to redeem and recapture their stature and reputations. Just for the record, they succeeded -- the recovery is magnificent. I'm not sure if this is the same band with which she toured Asia in 2001 (a stellar performance on May 7, 2001 in Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR --if anyone else reading this caught it, then you know). But the jazz musicianship here is outstanding.

The strings and studio-generated mush is gone, and so are the producer efforts to make Diana Krall sound like "[insert top pop-chick's name] for adults". There are several elements that make this a worthwhile purchase even if you own several Krall studio CD's. In the case of the DVD, there's the added bonus of the visuals, an expanded song selection, and lots of off stage and 'behind the scenes' footage. But as if to make sure that fans buy both, the CD features songs not on the DVD. THe mix is more jazz and less pop than the studio recordings. As a consequence, Diana Krall's piano playing is featured more prominently. Songs that really fell flat on "Look of Love" are also brought to life by the presence of a drummer and vibraharpist (who is curiously not credited--probably due to some matter involving lawyers).

This performance is a return to classic form for jazz fans. The arrangements are excellent, the crowd is quiet during the songs -- but clearly thrilled by the performance. But what really makes this memorable is the song selection. That is strong enought here that I think this CD will still be listened to (and selling) decades from now.

A few surprises are "Just The Way You Are", from Billy Joel's mid-1970's album "The Stranger", and "A Case Of You", an obscure Joni Mitchell song from "Blue". The jazz versions actually outdoo the originals in some respects, and suggest that great songs will be Diana Krall's main focus in future releases. That impression is reinforced by her rendition of "Fly Me To The Moon", originally a hit for Frank Sinatra.

While she missed being on the soundtrack to the movie "Space Cowboys", Krall has had other collaborations with Clint Eastwood. Eastwood (along with Willie Nelson and a few other old warhorses) seems to be looking for cool new talent and apparently Diana Krall fits that mold. So, I think we can all expect some really exceptional releases and movie soundtrack work from Diana and her fellow musicians in the next few years.

By refusing to go the pop route and doing what some brain dead VP at a record company wanted, Diana Krall has avoided the fate of Cheryl Crow and others who desparately chase celebrity and try to be part of the IN CROWD. With this release she has crossed a threshold to become one of the IN CROWD on her own terms.

This CD has the earmarks of a defining piece of work. Probably the first classic Jazz release of the 21st century.

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Jazz Heroin(e) November 14, 2002

By N. Moskowitz

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

This album runs the risk of being classified a Schedule 1 drug by the FDA for its remarkable addictive potential. Yes, Diana Krall is like aural heroin on this electrifying CD. Her pacing, her rich, sultry voice and her impeccable pianistic skills shine like very few artists around today. I have played piano for nearly 50 years (God, am I THAT old?) and find that I simply MUST play along with this album every time I listen to it. This is also one of the best recorded live albums I have ever heard from an audiophile perspective. My system seduces me into believing that she is literally playing in my living room along with her great backup musicians. I saw her live at the Algonquin Hotel in New York about 5 years ago and the verve, swing and intimacy that I heard at that concert are clearly in evidence here on this cd. It looks like this brief review will be one of many 5 star ones for this album. It is certain to be a classic. Buy one, but if you don't have any money, this album is so good...

45 of 52 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Live in Paris" Audio CD January 4, 2003

By Barbara J. Major

Format:Audio CD

This live concert CD has nothing but good things to recommend it and I would say to anyone who likes standards done right as well as terrific bossa nova arrangements done by the masterful Claus Ogerman - that you can simply do no wrong in buying this audio CD. Not to mention that Diana Krall is quite an accomplished musician and her jazz piano skills really impressed me in this concert.

The only thing that has me puzzled, however, is why a non-live (studio recorded) Billy Joel track was subsituted for the wonderful Nat King Cole-inspired "Love Letters" (also arranged and conducted by Ogerman). I do not see a reason for this subsitution on the audio CD.

If you are driving around in your car or want to listen to good music while you are traveling, the audio CD is definitely the way to go. However, if you are home or have access to a DVD player in your location, nothing beats the DVD of this concert - where you can see as well as hear these first-rate musicians play, almost as if you were attending the concert yourself (with some considerable advantage to the DVD viewer with the excellent camera angles provided).

--bj
January 2003