Description
Diana Krall – The Look Of Love – Double 180 Gram Vinyl Record
Released on September 18, 2001, Diana Krall’s The Look of Love is a lush, romantic album that blends jazz standards with bossa nova, pop, and orchestral arrangements. Known for her sultry voice and virtuosic piano playing, Krall leans into the theme of love on this record, delivering a collection of timeless love songs with an air of sophistication and sensuality. Produced by Claus Ogerman, whose string arrangements add a rich, cinematic feel to the album, The Look of Love stands as one of Krall’s most commercially successful and critically acclaimed albums, appealing to both jazz aficionados and mainstream audiences.
Following the success of her previous album, When I Look in Your Eyes (1999), The Look of Love showcases Krall’s ability to seamlessly fuse jazz with elements of pop and bossa nova, creating an accessible yet artistically nuanced listening experience. The album reached No. 9 on the Billboard 200 chart and went on to achieve multi-platinum status worldwide, solidifying Krall’s place as one of the most prominent voices in modern jazz.
By the time The Look of Love was released, Diana Krall had already established herself as a leading figure in the contemporary jazz scene. Known for her smooth, smoky vocals and impeccable piano technique, Krall brought a sense of timeless elegance to her interpretations of jazz standards. For this album, she chose to focus on love songs, pairing her jazz roots with the sensual rhythms of bossa nova and the grandeur of orchestral strings.
Claus Ogerman, a legendary arranger known for his work with artists like Frank Sinatra, Bill Evans, and Antonio Carlos Jobim, was brought on to arrange and conduct the string sections, giving the album a lush, cinematic quality. Ogerman’s arrangements, combined with Krall’s understated delivery, create a sound that is both intimate and expansive, perfect for the romantic themes explored throughout the record.
The Look of Love is defined by its blend of jazz, bossa nova, and orchestral pop. The album features a mix of small jazz combo arrangements—anchored by Krall’s piano and vocals—along with sweeping string sections that give the songs a rich, cinematic quality. The combination of Krall’s intimate vocal delivery and Ogerman’s luxurious arrangements creates an atmosphere of warmth and sensuality, making the album ideal for both quiet evenings and grand romantic gestures.
Ogerman’s string arrangements are a standout feature of The Look of Love, adding a layer of sophistication to the album’s sound. Tracks like “The Look of Love” and “I Remember You” feature sweeping, romantic strings that give the songs a cinematic, almost timeless quality. The orchestration complements Krall’s jazz trio setup without overwhelming it, creating a perfect balance between intimacy and grandeur.
Krall’s incorporation of bossa nova is most evident on tracks like “S’Wonderful” and “Besame Mucho,” where the gentle, swaying rhythms of bossa nova provide a sensual backdrop for her vocals. The smooth, understated percussion and acoustic guitar give these songs a relaxed, tropical feel, evoking the laid-back elegance of classic Brazilian music.
Krall’s vocal style on this album is marked by its restraint and subtlety. Her delivery is soft, smoky, and intimate, conveying emotion through nuance rather than power. This understated approach allows the listener to focus on the lyrics and the mood of each song, making the album feel deeply personal. Tracks like “Cry Me a River” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” showcase Krall’s ability to convey longing and vulnerability with just a few carefully chosen vocal inflections.
As its title suggests, The Look of Love is a celebration of love in its many forms, from the heady rush of new romance to the bittersweet ache of longing and heartache. Each song on the album explores different facets of love, with Krall’s interpretations bringing depth and nuance to these well-worn themes. Whether she’s singing about passionate desire or quiet devotion, Krall’s performance is imbued with a sense of emotional sincerity and elegance.
Songs like “The Look of Love” and “Besame Mucho” capture the sensuality and intensity of romantic love. Krall’s breathy, intimate vocals heighten the sense of longing in these songs, while the lush orchestration adds to the feeling of grandeur and passion. The title track, in particular, is one of the album’s highlights, with its slow, languid tempo and seductive mood perfectly capturing the essence of desire.
Not all the songs on the album are about the joys of love—there are also moments of heartache and melancholy. “Cry Me a River” is a classic torch song about betrayal and loss, and Krall’s version is both sultry and sorrowful. “Maybe You’ll Be There” also delves into the theme of unfulfilled love, with Krall’s wistful vocals conveying a sense of yearning and regret.
Throughout the album, Krall pays homage to the timelessness of love and romance. Songs like “I Remember You” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” evoke a sense of nostalgia for the classic era of jazz and pop standards, with Krall’s interpretations breathing new life into these well-known tunes. The combination of her jazz sensibilities and Ogerman’s lush arrangements makes these songs feel both contemporary and timeless.
Notable Tracks
“The Look of Love”: The title track, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, is one of the album’s highlights. Krall’s sultry vocals, combined with Ogerman’s sweeping string arrangements, give the song a cinematic quality, making it feel like the perfect soundtrack to a romantic film. The slow, sensuous tempo allows Krall to luxuriate in the song’s melody, making it one of the most evocative performances on the album.
“Cry Me a River”: This classic torch song is given a smoky, intimate interpretation by Krall. Her vocals are soft and restrained, conveying a sense of quiet sorrow rather than outright heartbreak. The orchestration builds slowly behind her, creating a dramatic contrast between the song’s emotional depth and Krall’s understated delivery.
“S’Wonderful”: This upbeat track features bossa nova rhythms and a light, breezy arrangement that perfectly complements Krall’s playful vocals. The song has a relaxed, joyful feel, with Krall’s piano work adding a touch of elegance to the lively rhythm.
“I’ve Got You Under My Skin”: Krall’s version of this Cole Porter classic is both sophisticated and sensual. The arrangement builds from a soft, jazz combo setup into a lush, full-orchestra crescendo, with Krall’s voice weaving through the layers of sound with grace and ease.
“Besame Mucho”: This Latin classic is given a romantic, bossa nova-inspired treatment, with Krall’s vocals blending seamlessly with the acoustic guitar and soft percussion. The song’s sensual lyrics and Krall’s intimate delivery make it one of the most romantic tracks on the album.
The Look of Love was a commercial and critical success, cementing Diana Krall’s status as one of the leading contemporary jazz artists of her generation. Critics praised the album for its lush arrangements, Krall’s intimate vocal delivery, and the seamless blend of jazz, pop, and bossa nova influences. The album’s accessible sound, combined with Krall’s jazz credibility, helped it appeal to both die-hard jazz fans and mainstream listeners, making it one of her most successful releases to date.
The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart and also found crossover success on the Billboard 200 chart, reaching the Top 10. It went on to achieve multi-platinum status, further solidifying Krall’s position as a major figure in both the jazz and pop worlds.
The Look of Love is a beautifully crafted album that combines the elegance of jazz standards with the sensuality of bossa nova and the grandeur of orchestral pop. Diana Krall’s understated, intimate vocals, paired with Claus Ogerman’s lush string arrangements, create a sound that is both luxurious and emotionally resonant. The album’s exploration of love, longing, and romance makes it a timeless collection of songs that continues to captivate listeners more than two decades after its release.
For fans of jazz, bossa nova, or simply romantic music, The Look of Love is an essential album that showcases Diana Krall at her most intimate and sophisticated. It stands as one of her finest works and remains a shining example of how jazz can blend with other genres to create something truly special.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
S’Wonderful
Love Letters
I Remember You
Cry Me A River
Besame Mucho
The Night We Called It A Day
Dancing In The Dark
I Get Along Without You Very Well
The Look Of Love
Maybe You’ll Be There
