Customer Reviews

Quiet Nights

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Fairly mainstream, middle of the road, outing by Ms. Krall. Well sung, played and produced for sure... but lacking something vital most of the time - perhaps a sense of risk and sponteneity that jazz fans look for...

Fans, and those with "adult-contempory" tastes will eat this up, but actual jazz fans may be a bit disappointed...

I hope Ms. Krall returns to more edgy stuff at some point, but the $$ may entice her to remain on this course... a slightly more sophisticated Michael Buble...

Cheers

Diana Krall fans will purchase this album regardless of ratings. Her renditions of Jobims compositions are uninspiring. If a side by side comparison with Elianne Elias was made, Krall would rate much lower. The only saving grace is the high quality recording.

"Quiet Nights" is Diana Krall's twelfth album, which marks her first work with the 79 year-old legendary arranger Claus Ogerman (Frank Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim) since 2002's "Live in Paris", and her first studio work with Ogerman since 2001's "The Look of Love".

She may have started out as a jazz pianist/vocalist but these days Diana Krall seems to have ditched any semblance of swing in favour of sickly string arrangements.

Her voice is lush and exquisite but she overdoes the breathiness - to the point that one wonders if a ventilator is required - and sticks too much to indistinguishable, slow bossa novas and ballads.

The result is a florid and bland album that washes over the listener.
My favourite tracks are : "Too Marvelous For Words", "Walk On By", and "So Nice".
The album reaches # 1 of Billboard Top Jazz Albums. Issue date 2009-04-18

Live In Paris
Lazy Afternoon track # 5
Brazil duet with Diana Krall on track # 3
Burt Bacharach Songbook Track "Walk On By"

Oh well. Diana Krall's Karaoke of the Astrud Gilberto renditions are a "tragic joke" indeed (pun indented).
Diana's fatigued, bedroom voice does not cut it this time and her attempts at singing in Portuguese ("Este Seu Olhar") are even lamer, especially for anyone who is familiar with the lushness and sensual nature of the language.

It almost feels like her financial adviser told here it is a good idea to do this record.

Sorry to be sarcastic. I am not a Diana Krall hater (I thought "Love Scenes" was great) but this record is totally not her forte.

Just my opinion.

Not at all the Diana Krall album we've come to expect.
The music overpowers. Her voice is faint and in the background.
The whole effect is cheap sounding.

I was rather disappointed in this CD. I LOVE Diana Krall and have most of her CDs and have seen her in concert numerous time. I don't feel this CD is up to her usual standards. Perhaps it's because it's not jazz, but I found the songs needed a bit more umph to them. They all dragged on as if she was sad and morose with every tune. She needed to pick the tempo up on most of them. Don't get me wrong, I love the songs, just no Diana singing them. Hopefully her next CD will be better.

Those who are not particularly fond of Diana Krall say that her albums follow a predictable path, and that she sounds too distant from the material she sings. While "Quiet Nights" will certainly not change the minds of her detractors, it will most definitely please her many fans; in fact, it's her best album since the playful "The girl in the other room". Diana has recorded thirteen evergreens, most of them culled from the American songbook of standards, performed with her trademark sultry vocals and unique piano playing style. The mood is reminiscent of past albums such as "The Look of Love": it's jazzy bossa-nova, nicely enhanced with delicate orchestral arrangements that complement the songs without overtaking them. Her renditions of "Where or when", "How can you mend a broken heart", "The boy from Ipanema", "Every time we say goodbye", the title track and "Walk on by" are the highlights here, but there are no weak moments on this album. Those who are already fans can buy this album with confidence; those who are intrigued by this artist and would like to know more about her, will find a great place to start with this CD.

Recognized most songs and was expecting a better rendition. Somewhat boring, couldn't listen all the way through. Much prefer Nora Jones.

It sounds as though Diana was asleep through most of this recording. It did the same for me! Too bad, I like most of her releases but this is a step in the wrong direction The whimsical cover art doesn't convey the content, her covers of Bee Gees, etc. tunes are lame at best! The Bossa Nova theme doesn't hold up either! It sounds good though!

An excellent album, harkens back to the bossa nova days of jobim. Arranged and conducted by claus ogerman who did a lot of the earlier bossa nova albums including jobim/sinatra. Great song stylings and an excellent burt bacharach song - walk on by - done in a brazilian style. Includes 2 bonus tracks though how can you mend a broken heart doesn't really fit in with the other tracks.