Stepping Out, The Early Recordings

Diana Krall

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Number of Discs: 1
• ASIN: B000005YUP
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #124,051 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

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. --Zan Stewart

Product Description

The esteemd Canadian jazz pianist's 1993 debut album, her sole release before signing to GRP in the U.S. 'Stepping Out' features John Clayton on bass, Jeff Hamilton on drums and Krall both singing & playing the piano. The 11 tracks consist of both originals & covers, including 'This Can't Be L ove', 'Straighten Up And Fly Right', 'Between The Devil An d The Deep Blue Sea' and 'I'm Just A Lucky So And So'. De leted in the U.S.! 1993 release. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I can't seem to stop listening to this., September 18, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Kalamazoo (I'd have named it something else), Michigan) - See all my reviews

Very listenable. This is my favorite album of Ms. Krall's. If you like small groups, standards and stuff with a little swing, this is the disc for you. This CD is very straightforward but has some nifty little surprises. I can hear the influence of Mary Stallings (!) and (I know you won't believe this) a tiny touch of Ahmad Jamal (!!!). She even recorded a version of the Harold Arlen tune "As Long As I Live." It seems like nobody ever records or even knows about that great little song. There is something here for a casual listener and a total jazz snob like me. A deal at twice the price.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Diana Krall at her best: She sings! She plays! She swings!, December 26, 2001

By	Trentcanuck (Regina, SK, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Steppin' Out (Audio CD)

This is a great CD: vintage Diana Krall before the marketing folks at GRP Records got ahold of her career. Unlike her three most recent albums of "easy listening" music, which see her talents as a jazz singer and pianist well hidden, this album swings! Unlike the overly-breathy sultriness of recent efforts, her singing style here is strong and effortless, reminiscent of Shirley Horn or Rosemary Clooney. Her playing, even at this early stage of her career, is melodic and complementary to her vocal phrasing. I owned the original release when it came out in '93, and just bought this remastered edition, which is well worth it. The sound quality was already just fine, but this new version is better yet, with increased detail and soundstage. Best of all, there is a bonus track, which was omitted from the original release, and is a real treat for a longtime Diana fan. After the disappointing schmaltz of Love Scenes and The Look of Love, it was exhilarating to hear a new track of Ms. Krall singing and swinging again!!

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Sample Of What Was To Come, January 13, 2000

By	Joseph Panzarella "joeytunes" (West Islip, New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Although this was Diana's first release (in Canada) it wasn't released in the states until she had a few other releases to her credit. This wasn't the first disc of Diana's that I purchased but when it was released I wanted to hear her early works, and in my opinion it is very pleasing. She paid tribute to Nat King Cole on this disc with "Straighten Up And Fly Right" and also "Frim Fram Sauce" which she also recorded again for the "All For You" disc which was a tribute to Nat King Cole. My favorites besides the ones I previously mentioned are, "This Can't Be Love", "I'm Just A Lucky So And So", "Body And Soul", and "Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me". I suggest picking up this disc if you want to see the direction Diana was heading for and mastered when she got there.