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That Sinatra vibe
Doing an album of standards was still a labor of love for songstress Krall

By Mark Brown, Rocky Mountain News
August 27, 2007

After doing an album of originals and a Christmas disc, jazz singer/pianist Diana Krall wondered what to do next. She was inclined to shy away from standards because of the glut of singers jumping on that bandwagon.

But then she got the notion of singing Cole Porter's From This Moment On, and an album was born. Also born: the twin sons of Krall and her husband Elvis Costello, making it a different world.

She talked about music and family life recently with Rocky pop music writer Mark Brown.

What made you record these big-band songs rather than more originals?

Krall: "Because I worked with the Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, a big band, during the Christmas record. I really enjoyed it. I hadn't done it for a while. The intensity of writing and performing . . . was a lot of work. I was sort of wanting to take a different turn. I was pregnant while I was making a record. I just loved working with John and Jeff (Clayton). I'd never worked with a big band before. I wanted to reach out here to Frank Sinatra at the Sands, that whole Sands kind of vibe."

It seems like every singer out there has suddenly jumped on the American songbook. Does that worry you?

Krall: " It really puts me in a weird position. That's one of the reasons I did an about-face. It was just like 'Forget it. People are going to be sick of this.' But you can't really go there. This is music that's repertoire. That was an era when there were a lot of great singers. They were all covering the same songs, but differently and very well. I try not to go there and be self-conscious and think. I'm just doing what I want to do honestly, because I can't lie. I can't say, 'I'll do this one because it'll be more commercial.' I have to find the story in it. I've only done (a song) once in my whole career where I felt like it wasn't right for me."

How did you pull the final songs together?

Krall: "Sequencing is really always hard. You do an album of 12 tunes and then there's five bonus tracks that you've added on to whatever store wants to put their own exclusives. You're really making albums with about 20 tunes now because the market is the way it is. You go to iTunes and they're selling singles again. The whole thing has changed. People make their own play list and their own CDs. I'm still pretty old-school. I spend a lot of time sequencing and balancing. This isn't the difficult part. (In picking the songs) for me it's like falling in love. My life has changed so I'm ready now to sing a certain song where maybe I wouldn't be two years ago because I couldn't relate to it."

Do things like bonus tracks and ringtones make it difficult to resist pressure to be more commercial?

Krall:"I'm not very easily pushed. I dig in my heels pretty hard. I'm in control of everything that I do, and I make sure that everything that goes out, I better love it. I always find promotion the most difficult - the 'doing the press part.' I'm better now because I feel a little less defensive. When I first came out it was all about they just wanted to talk about my legs and the this and the that."

Oh, we'll get to the legs.

Krall: "Oh good, thank you. I want my old body back. I'm still postpartum."

You're more comfortable with the press now, but you're arguably better tabloid fodder now, too. Is the attention difficult?

Krall: "When I'm by myself, I don't really have any problem with that. If somebody took pictures of us on Mother's Day, I thought that's fine. But I don't want their lenses in my children's faces. Every parent would feel that way. They didn't choose it. I don't think we're real tabloid fodder. We're not there."

How do marriage and children impact your time for music?

Krall: "I'm always really full-on. I was just feeding my son when I called you. This is why I'm still carrying 15 pounds of weight (laughs). I'm not training hard. I'm being a mom to two children and trying to look after myself. I started to diet and got run down and got really sick. So if I'm going to be an artist and do the work I need to do and travel and be a good mother, I'm just not going to sleep. I'm just going to do everything. I just played two shows a night at Yoshi's over the weekend and I'm tired. I've always had tons of stamina. It's what I want to do. Having said all that, yes, it's an adjustment. They're really good boys and we're loving every moment of it. It's good for them to see what Mommy does."

What's it like going from a small-club date like Yoshi's to playing big outdoor venues?

Krall: "What's difficult is when I have to play in daylight, when you can see the whole audience. I find that more difficult. When it's nighttime, you can make it into an intimate setting. You can use your imagination more. The elements don't bother me."

Flying fingers

Diana Krall has recorded an impressive number of albums since her 1993 debut:

• Steppin' Out (1993)

• Only Trust Your Heart (1995)

• All for You (1996)

• Love Scenes (1997)

• When I Look in Your Eyes (1998)

• The Look of Love (2001)

• Live in Paris 2002

• Heartdrops: Vince Benedetti Meets Diana Krall (2003)

• One Night in Paris-Live (2003)

• The Girl in the Other Room (2004)

• Christmas Songs (2005)

• From This Moment On (2006)

Source: Allmusic.com

Copyright 2007, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.

Thank you for this article Bud. It was such a pleasure to read.

Char

Agree Char, it was a nice article.

Bud in Virginia wrote:She was inclined to shy away from standards because of the glut of singers jumping on that bandwagon

Of course, she only has herself to blame - she did a lot to create the bandwagon

I don't know "Heartdrops: Vince Benedetti Meets Diana Krall (2003)"...........Still

Heartdrops is an unofficial recording. It was recorded in the late 80s, but not released until 2003. Diana wasn't at all happy about it being released, but Vince Benedetti apparently had the proper release forms.

Actually, its fun to hear the raw talent of the young Diana. I enjoy the album...

What a shame Diana was not at all happy but I'm tempted to hear this...

Thanks for the post, Bud.

The journalist in me wishes that the reporter had asked Diana a follow-up question: which one song did she do that didn't feel right for her?

Great article. I was wondering how Diana would be able to go on the road with two babies and stick to a 1200-calorie-a-day diet. Sorry to hear she was sick.

I just came across this item and can't remember if anyone had posted it. Enjoy...or enjoy it again.

http://www.billpetro.com/2007/08/29/con ... in-denver/

I think this is new here, thanks for sharing.

Coda wrote:Thanks for the post, Bud.

The journalist in me wishes that the reporter had asked Diana a follow-up question: which one song did she do that didn't feel right for her?

I believe it is "Popsicle Toes."

What makes you think that it's Popsicle Toes? I gather from Bud that she is disenamored of it at this point, but I've also heard she used to perform it live quite a bit and it was a crowd favorite. Color me curious. It's one of my favorite of her songs, though I am less in love with it than I was a few months ago. Lately, I'm more about "East of the Sun", "I'll String Along," "Let's Fall in Love" and "The Best Thing for You," for the record.

-CS

"I would say there's one piece that I've never performed in public that I kinda don't feel is right for me.

WHERRY: Which one?

DIANA: Popsicle Toes, a Michael Franks tune I recorded for 1998 (When I Look in Your Eye). I just don't feel it. I knew it right after the record came out. But I have nothing against Michael Franks. The song was right for me at the time. I don't regret it, it wasn't a mistake."

http://www.artsandopinion.com/2004_v3_n4/wherry-3.htm

Thanks, kjazz.

I could see where it might be easier to sing "Popsicle Toes" in a studio than on stage. I think Diana had just the right tone for the song on the record. I first heard it performed by The Manhattan Transfer, and I like that version, too, but I definitely prefer Diana's. I do think you have to be at a certain place emotionally to sing that song believably.

kjazz wrote:"I would say there's one piece that I've never performed in public that I kinda don't feel is right for me.

WHERRY: Which one?

DIANA: Popsicle Toes ...

Well, that's pretty definitive. Thanks for the source. Bummer! I think it's a great, fun song, and Diana knocks it out of the park. I very much prefer her version to Michael Franks'. I've yet to hear Manhattan Transfer's. There's no question it's a silly, nonsense, show off song, but she does it so well. I think of it as being much like "Frim Fram Sauce," another one I like a lot. I wonder if Diana finds it too overtly flirty, the bit about feeling the warm Brazil and touching the Panama, and whatnot. Perhaps too unsubtle for her.

Oh well, I can scratch that one off the wish list of songs I'd like to hear her perform. I shall have to work on "I Remember You."

-CS

DIANA: Popsicle Toes, a Michael Franks tune I recorded for 1998 (When I Look in Your Eye). I just don't feel it. I knew it right after the record came out. But I have nothing against Michael Franks. The song was right for me at the time. I don't regret it, it wasn't a mistake."

She is tired of sing another song...

I shall have to work on "I Remember You."

It's your next target, as I can see...

I'm at the point where anything Diana performs is readily accepted by me. I was thrilled beyond measure when she did 'A Case of You' (the board regulars know this story well!) and I'm resigned to the fact that I'll probably not witness a live performance of BOBD. Certainly, there are some 'nice to hears' on my list, like Departure Bay (believe it or not!). But I totally understand that Diana feels that she's moved beyond much of the material on GITOR, and I respect that. If I want to hear that material, I can obviously throw on that CD at my leisure.

I've been so fortunate to see Diana on three separate occasions, and each time has been a treat. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us on her next album, which will then lead me to anticipate a concert tour.