Diana Krall

Diana Krall’s much awaited new release of ballads and bossa novas is finally out. Krall has chosen to sing a collection of a dozen successful standards together with bossas ”˜Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars,’ ”˜The Boy From Ipanema’ and ”˜So Nice’ and also jazz standards like ”˜Where or When,’ ”˜Every Time We Say Goodbye’ and ”˜Too Marvelous for Words.’ She has also chosen some pop hits from the 60s and 70s such as ”˜Walk on By’ and ”˜I’ve Grown Accustomed to His Face.’

Despite all this great material and fabulous backing from her jazz quartet, plus a huge orchestra conducted by Claus Ogerman, the album is disappointing. Diana Krall has set high standards for herself with marvelous jazz recordings in the past, but here she doesn’t seem to have her heart in her singing. Sadly, she brings very little to the music and seems to practically whisper rather than sing throughout Quiet Nights.