Diana Krall

After looking at Diana Krall's image on the album cover of The Look of Love, listeners might be surprised when they hear her voice -- a sleek and sultry alto sound. The beautiful Krall, poised so elegantly on an ottoman, is in fact the master behind this tone. \nThe Look of Love follows in the tradition of 1999's When I Look In Your Eyes and previous albums, in that it contains heart-felt, classic love ballads by some of America's greatest writers.\n"S' Wonderful," written by George and Ira Gershwin starts the album off on the right note, with Krall's vocals coming out strong and bassist Christian McBride and the Los Angeles session orchestra backing her up with a steady beat.\n"I Remember You" has a long intro, accentuating the talents of McBride and percussionist Paulinho Da Costa. When Krall comes in, the song really works its magic, casting a spell with a crisp, clear tonality and subtle piano, played by Krall.\nKrall's rendition of "Cry Me a River" is a stand-out, exhibiting Krall's ability to dip into her low range seamlessly. "Besame Mucho" starts off slow and sexy, producing a flawless sound, but her faltering Spanish accent takes away from the piece at times.\nAnother superb track is Krall's version of "I Get Along Without You Very Well," written by IU's own Hoagy Carmichael. While her lyrical phrases seem short, her sound is unmistakably original, thus it is appealing.\nThe remainder of the tracks exhibit their own beautiful qualities; "Maybe You'll Be There," has Krall singing from her heart to a love that is no more. "Love Letters," "The Night We Called it a Day" and "Dancing in the Dark," are fine additions to the worthy jazz CD.\nIf you come across Krall's disc in a store, don't judge it by the cover. From the depths of the beautiful blonde's soul comes a sound that will completely bowl you over. Ella Fitzgerald or Billie Holiday she's not, but she is certainly an original.