The Look Of Love

Description

While theres no denying that jazz-pop star Diana Kralls movie-star good looks went a long way toward endearing her to mainstream America, thats just the tip of the iceberg. Just as undeniable are Kralls gifts as a pianist and singer. Far from a crass populist, shes a subtle, nuanced performer who approaches her craft with an excess of skill and knowledge. This is apparent from the very beginning of THE LOOK OF LOVE, when Krall tackles the overly familiar Gershwin chestnut SWonderful not the way countless jazz singers have done in preceding decades, but in a style influenced by Joao Gilberto, who recorded the tune years before in a simmering bossa nova mode. This marriage of canny craft and artistic inspiration is repeated again and again throughout the album. Most of the songs here have been trotted out countless times by Kralls contemporaries and (especially) predecessors, but her thoughtful phrasing and low-key dynamic shifts match her unhurried, pastel piano style on each tune to bring out something special at the songs core.