Krall brings more thoughtful, nuanced vibe to latest outing

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By Matt Warner, Contributing Writer 7:17 PM Thursday, July 2, 2009

The Fraze Pavilion welcomes one of today’s most recognized jazz musicians this week, as vocalist and pianist Diana Krall comes to town. Krall’s performance Tuesday at the Fraze is part of a massive international tour this summer and fall in support of her album “Quiet Nights” (Verve 2009), which was released in the spring.

“Quiet Nights” is a bit of a departure from the husky-toned, hard-swinging standards that made Krall, 43, a sensation in the mid-1990s. The album centers around the graceful step of Brazilian bossa nova rather than a bouncy swinging feel. Krall’s vocals are less robust on this record in favor of a whispering, more declamatory delivery.

Krall has always delivered sensual, heartfelt ballads, but “Quiet Nights” has a much more personal and even narrative quality. Only three of the 10 songs are truly ballads, but the entire album has a hushed and unhurried vibe, as the title suggests. She has described the album as a “love letter” to her husband, noted singer/songwriter Elvis Costello, which explains the intimate quality of the music and her unique take on the songs.

Her usual quartet—guitarist Anthony Wilson, bassist John Clayton, drummer Jeff Hamilton — is augmented on “Quiet Nights” by orchestra. The arrangements by Claus Ogerman are moody and dark, and effectively set the stage for Krall’s expressive interpretations of standards such as “I Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out to Dry” and “Every Time We Say Goodbye.”

Krall has worked with strings before, as in her album “When I Look in Your Eyes” (Verve 1999), which featured arrangements by Johnny Mandel, and “The Look of Love” (Verve 2001) with arrangements by Ogerman. Those albums were well received by critics and listeners, with the former earning a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal. They also still had much of what has been Krall’s bread and butter since early in her career: romping, bluesy swing tunes and sultry ballads.

“Quiet Nights” has a decidedly different air about it. It is not merely a “With Strings” format that many jazz artists have applied, and allows Krall to explore different avenues as a singer and interpreter of songs. It showcases Krall as a more thoughtful, nuanced, and intentional artist than ever.

Her live show is almost sure to feature a variety of styles, fan favorites, and a few surprises. But one hopes that on a balmy, starlit summer evening Diana Krall will serenade the audience with the kind of depth she gave on “Quiet Nights.”

Matt Warner is a contributing music writer for the Dayton Daily News. He can be reached by e-mail at warner.matt@mac.com. Jazzbeat appears every Sunday.