Interestingly, the three tracks on
Look of Love that were recorded at the Capitol
Studios in Hollywood (Sinatra's old haunt) are all
Latin-tinged numbers which provide just the right
level of rhythmic propulsion in the laid-back groove
to make them credible. S'Wonderful, I Remember
You, and Besame Mucho recall the beautiful
sophistication of the Getz-Gilberto sessions or
some of Jobim's best recordings. Much of the credit
for this goes to drummer Jeff Hamilton and bassist
Christian McBride. Each track features a different
guitarist, all of them comfortable with the Latin
rhythms they lay down. Krall uses her piano only
for added coloration on these tracks. The orchestral
arrangements by Claus Ogerman add to the ambience
without ever becoming intrusive or syrupy.
Krall, like Sinatra, is not a jazz
singer so much as a torch singer (Sinatra referred
to himself as a "saloon singer", but female
singers are never referred to this way). Her delivery
is conversational, adding to the intimacy of the
songs and, no doubt accounting for a great deal
of Krall's popularity. The sound is modern and smooth,
but not overly so. "Cry Me A River" is
an exercise in beauty, with Peter Erskine's brushwork
riding over the strings, and guitarist Russell Malone's
bell-like tones striking the right balance between
a sophisticated lounge and a bluesy bar. Krall wisely
pulls back on the delivery here, knowing that you
don't have to "sell" a song like this.
Just putting it out there with honesty and an easy
delivery conveys its feeling perfectly well. She
also provides just the right touch of blues-inflected
piano to bring the track to its conclusion.
The Burt Bacharach-penned title track
has always been a favorite song of mine, and no
one could ever hear Dusty Springfield sing it without
forever associating the song with her. Krall doesn't
reinvent the song, but she does a fine job with
it. If I had to criticize one element of this track
it is that the tempo is a bit too midrange/slow.
Some will probably say that is a problem with the
entire album--there are only slow ballads and mid-tempo
Latin numbers. Krall has successfully dealt with
more uptempo material before, and recent recordings
by new jazz singers like Jane Monheit have mixed
tempos and moods more successfully. However, I have
to believe that the intent here was to create a
program of romantic mood music, and Krall and her
compatriots have done that very successfully. Those
who seek more swing or uptempo numbers will need
to look elsewhere.
The Look of Love will no doubt
be on a lot of CD players this fall and winter,
as essential to a romantic evening as a roaring
fire, a bevy of scented candles, and a chilled bottle
of Skyy Citrus. It will also be playing in a lot
of clubs, trendy restaurants, cocktail bars, and
yes, even saloons.
<<Beginning
of Article | Live
In Paris | The
Girl In the Other Room |
Diana Krall News
