Diana Krall - From This Moment On
Pianist and vocalist Diana Krall has performed in small and large settings and proven she is comfortable in both. Though mostly a big-band album, “From This Moment On” juxtaposes small-scale Krall with large-scale Krall and, in the end, the big-band tracks are not enough overthrow the combo Krall we know and love. Teaming up with the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Krall kicks off the album with “It Could Happen to You”, arranged as a mid-tempo, big band number. This seems fine until the track proceeding, “Isn’t It a Lovely Day”; it sounds so similar that this listener needed to flip back to the previous track to contrast. But, if you’re a Krall purist who believes her best work is found on her Nat King Cole tribute album “All for You,” jump to “Exactly Like You”, where she scales back to her trademark combo featuring guitarist Anthony Wilson, bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton. There we can finally discern some of Krall’s easy piano soloing and comprehend the close musical rapport she has with her frequent combo-mates. Likewise, other tracks (e.g. “Little Girl Blue”) do better when Krall’s voice is not minimized by belting brass.
4 out of 5 ears
RIYL: ½ Maria Schneider Orchestra, ½ Nat King Cole
- Devin Ouye Yamanaka