Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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110 of 112 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
five stars aren't enough..., November 28, 2000
By A Customer
I discovered this album because a friend of mine in the music industry (who doesn't know all that much about jazz vocalists) wanted to know if Diana Krall was as good as all the hype about her said she was. After a quick scan of the song list I replied that it would be easy to tell because she had a version of "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" and that was one of my favorite pieces -- not only one of my favorites, I said, but I have a recording on a mix tape at home by some woman (who's name escaped me) that I considered the definitive version of " Boulevard Of Broken Dreams". Two seconds into the song I realized that this was the woman. I said, " she's better". Diana Krall's ability to interpret standards is truly amazing. I have a fairly extensive collection of jazz vocal albums and I place this one right up there at the top with singers like Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Hartman, Nat Cole & Billy Holiday -- not necessarily because they sound alike, but more because all of these artists can sing a song and make you hear it differently than you've ever heard it before. Now I'm not going to try to convince you that all of her recording are flawless, but this one is a pure winner. There's not a bad track on here. Some of the stand outs are 'You Call It Madness', 'You're Looking At Me', 'A Blossom Fell', and of course my favorite 'Boulevard Of Broken Dreams'. I can't wait for Diana to outgrow this label. They spend way too much time trying to promote her image. It's not an insult to say that her image is the least of her qualities.
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58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The album that alerted people to Diana's brilliance, January 22, 2003
After buying and enjoying her next two albums (Love scenes and When I look in your eyes), this one came as a surprise to me - but what a pleasant surprise. Like Jeri Southern, a brilliant singer-pianist of an earlier generation, Diana began as a pianist but was obliged to sing as well in order to get work. On this album, recorded when Diana was still unknown, Diana's piano is very prominent. For those who enjoy hearing Diana singing love songs, there are plenty here, but there are upbeat songs to give more variation than you will find in the other albums I mentioned.Yet, this is all achieved with very few musicians. Russell Malone on guitar and Paul Keller on bass accompany Diana singing and playing piano. On most tracks, that's it. Steve Kroon plays percussion on Boulevard of broken dreams, while Benny Green plays piano on If I had you, leaving Diana (for that track only) to just sing. You have to be good to deliver an album of such quality with so few musicians (especially without a drummer), but Diana and her musicians prove that it can be done. While I did not find this album as instantly appealing as her next two (perhaps because it was not what I expected), it is one that grows on me each time I play it.
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48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best (so far!), December 4, 1998
By A Customer
You can't argue that Diana Krall isn't sensous looking, and that's how her record company is selling her(pick up her fine XMAS 3 song CD/calendar and you'll see.) Listen carefully to this album and you'll hear sensual singing, thoughtful production and top notch musicianship. It is a joy, and so far the best of her recordings (and the others are all very good.) Listen in your car, or alone in a quiet room, or through headphones. Her voice, husky and idosyncratic, is mesmerizing. Her interesting pianistics matches perfectly. And her interplay with the phenomenal guitarist Russell Malone is almost telepathic. If this were a vinyl disk, you'd wear it out from overplaying. Every track is a gem, perhaps aided by the programmatic nature of this material. It makes you wish that the great Nat Cole were still here to hear this tribute! P.S. Want better than this disc? - You'll have to catch Krall live in an intimate jazz club setting. If she's in your neighborhood, don't miss her!!!
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