Rating:
Genre:
Vocal Music
Release Date: 09/19/2006
Returning to the large ensemble sound of her 2005 success,
Christmas Songs, pianist/vocalist
Diana Krall delivers a superb performance on 2006's
From This Moment On. Although having received a largely positive critical response for her creative departure into original
singer/songwriter jazz material on 2004's
The Girl in the Other Room, here listeners find
Krall diving headlong into the Great American Songbook that has long been her bread and butter. While she's always been a pleasant presence on album,
Krall has developed from a talented pianist who can sing nicely into an engaging, classy, and sultry vocalist with tastefully deft
improvisational chops. But it's not just that her phrasing and tone are well-schooled. Having long drawn comparisons to such iconic and icy
jazz singers as
Julie London and
Peggy Lee,
Krall truly earns such high praise here. In fact, tracks like
"Willow Weep for Me" and
"Little Girl Blue" are drawn with such virtuosic melancholy by
Krall as to be far and away some of the best
ballads she's put to record. Similarly impressive big
swing numbers like
"Come Dance with Me" showcase her muscular rhythmic chops both vocally and on the keys. Backing her here is the always wonderful
Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, featuring some punchy and solid solo spots by trumpeter
Terell Stafford, as well as the rhythm section talents of guitarist
Anthony Wilson, bassist
Robert Hurst, and drummer
Jeff Hamilton.
~Matt Collar, All Music Guide
;)
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