Quiet Nights [Deluxe Edition]

Quiet Nights [Deluxe Edition]

by Diana KrallDiana Krall

Overview

Bossa nova is not unfamiliar to Diana Krall, but 2009's Quiet Nights is her first record devoted to the gently swaying rhythm. Teaming up again with arranger Claus Ogerman, who last worked with Krall on 2001's The Look of Love and who also frequently collaborated with bossa nova godfather Antonio Carlos Jobim, Krall winds up with a mellow, lazy album that recalls the relaxed late-night sophistication of Jobim's duet album with Frank Sinatra, which Ogerman also happened to arrange and conduct. It's not just the sound, it's the songs: how '60s standards like Bacharach/David's "Walk on By" sit next to three Jobim tunes, a song by Marcos Valle ("So Nice"), and a few American Songbook standards placed at the beginning, the better to ease listeners into purer bossa nova at the end. Then again, they don't need much persuasion -- if any music could be called accessible it's this, with its warm intimacy and classic good taste. If anything, there may be a bit too much classic good taste on Quiet Nights -- there is no reinterpretation, only homage -- but that's not quite a problem because Krall knows enough to lay back, to never push, only to glide upon the gossamer surface. After all, some things are timeless for a reason; they need no updating, only replicating. [This version was released with a bonus DVD of live performances from Madrid, as well as a version of "Makin Whoopee" featuring Elvis Costello and Elton John.]

Editorial Reviews

Boston Globe - Steve Greenlee

The line between dreamy and sleepy is a fine one, and many jazz singers have fallen on the wrong side of it when attempting bossa nova. Diana Krall, however, negotiates it skillfully.... It probably has a lot to do with her honeyed voice, her laid-back delivery, and her experience.

Los Angeles Times - Chris Barton

Diana Krall's albums should come with a warning label: Do not use while operating heavy machinery. This is not a knock: Krall's round, relaxed voice is a nuanced instrument ideally suited for, as this album's title indicates, quiet nights.

Dallas Morning News - Mario Tarradell

Diana Krall could fog up the bedroom windows with just a few notes of her sultry voice. Especially on her gorgeous, Brazilian-inspired new CD, Quiet Nights.... The steam that Krall generates is sublime.

Baltimore Sun - Rashod D. Ollison

In a way, Quiet Nights extends the elegant feel of Krall's last album, the excellent From This Moment On. Her hushed, Shirley Horn-like vocals are warmly embraced by tastefully understated orchestration overseen by the legendary Claus Ogerman.... Quiet Nights simply matches a classy singer with a classic style.

Washington Times - Adam Mazmanian

Quiet Nights is a gem of an album, not in the least because it blends the intimacy of a small cabaret combo with the elegance and heft of a full orchestra.

Product Details

Release Date: 09/22/2009
Label: Verve
UPC: 0602527157405
catalogNumber: 001243300
Rank: 43908

Customer Reviews