Yes, she has solid piano chops and certainly photographs like a dream, but don’t count me among Diana Krall’s legions of devotees.
If I’m going to listen to female jazz vocalists, I’d put a good 20 ahead of Krall, including maybe 6 youngish American vocalists. To me, Krall is a decent, middle-of-the-road vocalist who today sits at the head of the class because of her looks, savvy arrangements and fetching looks. A few of her songs are gems, but most are forgettable.
I would agree with you for the most part. Decent, perhaps even above average, but not inspiring.
I was put off by a recent CD in which the editing was unusual for a studio album. Often, the engineers with edit out spit sounds, nose whistles, and lip-smacking sounds where they can and on that particular album they did seem to be muted and were plentiful to the point of distraction. Granted, I listened to the album with a recording engineer, and once she pointed out the “flaws” they seemed to increase in volume by 10dB. :rolleyes: I may not have ever noticed them otherwise.
I would agree you almost totally. Good-looking, above-average musically but not inspiring or even particularly noteworthy musically.
I enjoy listening to her should happen to catch her on the radio or if a friend is playing her music while I’m visiting, but I don’t go out of my way to listen to her.
I’m not a Diana Krall fan for the generic reasons that I’m not a jazz fan: it’s all a cool ‘glamourous’ presentation of her skills, with no emotive content, just like nearly all jazz.
A song about (let’s say) “I can’t get enough of you” could not be distinguished from a song about “You broke my heart and left me to drift like garbage in the gutter” or “You make me so hot and horny I can’t think of anything else” if you didn’t know English — the emotional content is the same, which is minimal. Chromium and champagne perfectionism.
There isn’t even much performer-passion. I mean, admittedly, lots of classic hard rock also sounds of one emotional content, whether the song is about “I think I am dying”, “Wow girlie you are the hottest thing”, or “the wicked civilization decays under the weight of its decadence as the vultures watch with glittering eyes”, not to mention “hot damn we’re playing rock n roll!”. But even to the extent that this is true, the performer-passion at least moves you. Or moves me, at least.
If you happened to see the oft-circulated / linked juggling routines, where one guy seems to be having a lot of fun juggling 3 balls in rhythm to Beatles songs, and is responded to by a skilled juggler who makes doing 5 of them look effortless? … Jazz is the guy effortlessly juggling 5 balls. Rock is often a guy who could just barely handle 3, but puts steam and determination in to it.
(And lots of classical resembles a crazy juggler doing 5 sets of 5 each simultaneously with both perfectionism and, with the right conductor, lurid passion… )
I think Diana Krall is quite good at what she does, and plays with some regulars who are also quite good at what they do (John Clayton, Jeff Hamilton, et al). And I actually did like some tracks from The Girl in the Other Room,. But she’s most known for doing “the classics” and when she does she totally puts me to sleep.
I don’t think she even looks that great. I think she has some very skilled photographers who bring out her best qualities, but when I’ve seen her beyond publicity photos I never really see anything special.
[QUOTE= it’s all a cool ‘glamourous’ presentation of her skills, with no emotive content, just like nearly all jazz.
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As a jazz musician and one who has worked with many, I’ll have to politely say I strongly disagree with you. Jazz is a difficult art form to both perform and appreciate. I have heard many concerts which have raised my spirits or nearly moved me to tears. I suppose in this artistic debate one would say it’s impossible to reach a definitive answer.
I guess all I have to say is that I appreciate all genres of music, and I’d urge you to try to as well. Theres a whole lot of music out there to enjoy. Just ask and I’ll reccomend some albums.
Sheesh, talk about ridiculous over-generalizations. Jazz, as an artform, is as capable of great love, passion, rage, joy, tenderness, etc., as any other musical genre.
As for Krall, sure she’s a hot babe with a mediocre voice but she doesn’t get enough credit for her piano playing. She definitely has chops and can really swing when given the chance. Unfortunately, that aspect of her talent is glossed-over by the slick production values of most of her studio recordings. Her live performances are a much better showcase for her piano playing.
That said, like VCO3 I prefer Blossom Dearie, squeaky voice and all. Or more recently, Cassandra Wilson (excepting the recent suckiness of Thunderbird) or Patricia Barber
I can’t stand to listen to Diana Krall’s singing, & I 'xpect I’ve said this before, because (yes this is a stupid reason) she enunciates with the wrong correctness. American popular song from blues to rock tends to have a certain quasi-southron mushiness, but she says “Bay-bee” instead of “Bey-beh” & has harsh r’s.
I do understand the objection to cold jazz, of which there is a lot. There is good emotive jazz, though. I lurve Cassandra Wilson, dig MedeskiMartin&Wood, & can stand Keiko Matsui (although she’s kind of on the New Age side of Smooth Jazz).
Miles Davis: Kind of Blue (Noted for it’s non technical playing and easier listening so you might appreciate this one), Birth of The Cool, many more
Keith Jarret: The Koln Concert (Also very accessable)
Sonny Rollins: The Bridge, Saxophone Colossus
Pat Metheny: Still Life Talking
Count Basie: Basie Straight Ahead (One of the most swinging albums I’ve heard)
Oscar Peterson: Night Train
Chick Corea: Return To Forever, His albums with Bobby McFerrin are fun as well
Some more modern stuff I’m listening too: (Take note I’m more aware of the canadian jazz scene)
Oregon: Primer
Kurt Elling: Man in the Air
Steve Hudson Quintet
David Braid: Live at the top of the Senator
Mike Murley, and David Occhipinti: Duologue
Theres some ideas, hope you gain some insight from them.
I like her. I’m not terribly knowledgeable about jazz; I do also like Blossom Dearie (ah, the apple trees… blossoms in the breeze…) and Sheila Jordan and Cassandra Wilson. I like Diana Krall, too. Not an “uber-fan”, but someone has to come in with a bit of pro-Diana. For balance, you know.
Yeah, I find her undistinguished and forgettable. Singers I like I can almost hear in my memory but on thinking about her I can’t really recall what she sounds like.
