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Diana Krall (6) songbooks collection.

Diana Krall: The Intimate Alchemist of Jazz

Diana Krall stands as a singular figure in contemporary music. More than just a jazz singer or pianist, she is an alchemist, transforming the Great American Songbook, blues, and bossa nova into deeply personal, intimate conversations. Her smoky contralto voice, impeccable piano technique steeped in swing and stride, and sophisticated harmonic sense have captivated audiences worldwide for over three decades, making her one of the most successful and respected jazz artists of her generation. This exploration delves into her life, artistry, collaborations, musical intricacies, and enduring legacy.

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I. Biography: From Nanaimo to Global Stardom

Roots in Nanaimo (1964-1981): Born Diana Jean Krall on November 16, 1964, in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, music permeated her childhood. Her father, an accomplished stride pianist with an extensive record collection (Fats Waller, Nat King Cole, Bill Evans, Stan Getz), and her mother, a singer, filled the house with jazz. Diana began classical piano studies at age four but was irresistibly drawn to her father’s jazz records. By her teens, she was playing piano in local restaurants and bars, absorbing the language of jazz standards.
Formal Education & Early Mentorship (1981-1990): After high school, Krall moved to Toronto to study at the Berklee College of Music briefly before transferring to the more performance-oriented program at the University of Toronto. Crucially, legendary bassist Ray Brown (ex-husband of Ella Fitzgerald and longtime collaborator with Oscar Peterson) heard her play in Nanaimo during a festival. Recognizing her talent, he became a pivotal mentor, encouraging her to move to Los Angeles. In LA (early 1990s), she studied intensely with pianist Jimmy Rowles, who profoundly shaped her harmonic conception and approach to vocal accompaniment. She also immersed herself in the city’s vibrant jazz scene.
Canadian Debut & Building a Reputation (1990-1995): Krall returned to Canada and recorded her debut album, Stepping Out (1993), for the small Canadian label Justin Time. Featuring bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton (both Ray Brown protégés), it showcased her burgeoning piano skills and developing voice on standards like “Straighten Up and Fly Right” and “This Can’t Be Love.” It caught the ear of producer Tommy LiPuma.
Breakthrough with Verve (1996-Present): Signing with the prestigious Verve label proved transformative. Her major-label debut, All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio (1996), was a heartfelt tribute to one of her primary influences. Featuring guitarist Russell Malone and bassist Christian McBride, its elegant trio format highlighted her swinging piano, warm vocals, and deep understanding of the Cole aesthetic. It earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Performance – a sign of things to come.
Rise to Stardom (Late 1990s – 2000s): Subsequent albums cemented her status:
- Love Scenes (1997): A critically acclaimed trio session (Malone, McBride) focusing on romantic ballads, winning her first Grammy (Best Jazz Vocal).
- When I Look in Your Eyes (1999): A landmark. Expanding to orchestral arrangements by Johnny Mandel, it became a massive crossover success, selling over 8 million copies worldwide. It won the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album and was shockingly nominated for the coveted Album of the Year – the first jazz album nominated in that category in 25 years.
- The Look of Love (2001): Another orchestral triumph with Claus Ogerman arrangements, featuring the massive hit title track (Bacharach/David). Topped the Billboard 200 – a rare feat for a jazz album.
- Live in Paris (2002): Capturing the magic of her concert performances, featuring both trio and orchestra, winning another Grammy. This period established her as a global superstar capable of filling concert halls worldwide.
Personal Life & Continued Evolution (2000s-Present): In 2003, she married British musician Elvis Costello, who became a significant creative partner, co-writing songs and producing several albums. Motherhood (twins born in 2006) influenced her artistic direction, leading to more introspective and eclectic projects:
- The Girl in the Other Room (2004): Featured original co-writes with Costello, a marked departure into more contemporary and personal songwriting.
- From This Moment On (2006): A return to swinging standards with a big band.
- Quiet Nights (2009): A lush, bossa-nova infused album arranged by Ogerman.
- Glad Rag Doll (2012): A radically different venture, exploring pre-war blues, jazz, and folk with producer T-Bone Burnett, using vintage microphones and instruments for a raw, old-timey feel.
- Wallflower (2015): A collection of 60s and 70s pop/rock covers (Elton John, Eagles, Bob Dylan, Mamas & Papas) in intimate arrangements, achieving massive commercial success.
- Turn Up the Quiet (2017): A return to acoustic jazz trio and quartet settings, reaffirming her core identity.
- This Dream of You (2020): Recorded during the same sessions as Turn Up the Quiet, featuring lush string arrangements by Alan Broadbent, released during the pandemic.
- Only Trust Your Heart (Live) (2023): A new live recording capturing the energy of her recent touring bands.
Awards & Recognition: Krall boasts an impressive collection: multiple Grammy Awards (including three for Best Jazz Vocal Album), numerous Juno Awards (Canada’s top music prize), an Order of British Columbia, and an Order of Canada – her country’s highest civilian honour. She is a Steinway Artist.

II. Music Style: The Art of Intimate Conversation

Krall’s style is a masterful blend of tradition and personal expression:

Piano Foundation: Her playing is the bedrock. Rooted in swing and the stride piano tradition (Fats Waller, Nat King Cole), it’s characterized by:
- Strong, Propulsive Left Hand: Providing a solid rhythmic and harmonic foundation, often walking bass lines or employing stride patterns.
- Lyrical Right Hand: Melodic, often sparse, and incredibly tasteful. She prioritizes space and melody over technical flamboyance.
- Harmonic Sophistication: Deeply influenced by Bill Evans and Jimmy Rowles, her chord voicings are rich, extended, and often reharmonize standards in subtle, beautiful ways (discussed later).
- Impeccable Time Feel: A deep, natural sense of swing that locks perfectly with her rhythm sections.
Vocals: Her voice is an instrument of intimacy:
- Contralto Range: Low, warm, smoky, and inherently relaxed.
- Phrasing: Conversational and rhythmic. She often sings slightly behind the beat, creating a sense of ease and sophistication. Her phrasing is deeply informed by her piano playing.
- Emotional Directness: She avoids overt sentimentality. Instead, she conveys emotion through subtle inflection, understatement, and a deep connection to the lyric. It feels like she’s confiding in the listener.
- Scat Singing: Used sparingly but effectively, often mimicking horn lines or piano phrases, seamlessly integrated into her solos.
Repertoire: While primarily associated with the Great American Songbook (Gershwin, Porter, Berlin, Kern, Arlen), her scope is broad:
- Jazz Standards
- Bossa Nova (Jobim)
- Blues
- Pre-war pop/jazz (“Glad Rag Doll”)
- 60s/70s Pop/Rock (“Wallflower”)
- Original Compositions (often with Costello)
Approach to Arrangement: Ranges from intimate piano trio (her most natural habitat) to quartet (adding guitar or sax), big band, and lush orchestral settings. Regardless of size, the focus remains on intimacy and the song itself.

III. Improvisational Licks and Phrasing: Melodic Storytelling

Krall’s improvisation, both vocally and pianistically, is less about flashy licks and more about melodic development, rhythmic play, and harmonic exploration within the song’s context:

Piano Improvisation:
- Motivic Development: She often takes a small melodic fragment from the tune and develops it logically, varying it rhythmically and harmonically. Listen to her solos on “Deed I Do” or “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” for clear examples.
- Blues Inflection: Even in standards, she incorporates subtle blues bends and phrasing, particularly in her left hand comping and right-hand lines. This adds grit and earthiness.
- Locked-Hands Style: Occasionally uses block chord solos reminiscent of Milt Buckner or George Shearing for a rich, horn-like texture.
- Quartal Harmony: Influenced by Bill Evans, she often builds lines and voicings using fourths, creating a more modern, open sound.
- Rhythmic Displacement: Shifting melodic phrases slightly off the expected beat for surprise and swing.
- Space: Crucially, she understands the power of silence. Her solos breathe, allowing ideas to resonate.
Vocal Improvisation/Scatting:
- Horn-Like Lines: Her scatting often mimics the phrasing of a tenor saxophone (Getz, Lester Young) or trumpet, using syllables like “doo,” “bop,” “shoo,” and “wee.”
- Call and Response: Engaging in dialogue with her own piano playing or band members.
- Lyrical Extension: Elongating or fragmenting the original melody while respecting its contours.
- Bluesy Growls & Slides: Subtle vocal inflections adding character, never overdone.

IV. Cooperation with Other Artists: Synergy and Inspiration

Krall has collaborated extensively, often forging long-term musical partnerships:

Core Band Members:
- John Clayton, Christian McBride, Robert Hurst (Bass): Provided foundational swing and harmonic depth throughout her career.
- Jeff Hamilton, Lewis Nash, Karriem Riggins, Anthony Wilson (Drums/Guitar): Integral to her classic trio sound. Wilson’s guitar added a lyrical counterpoint for many years.
- Stuart Duncan (Fiddle/Violin): Featured prominently on Glad Rag Doll and subsequent tours, adding a folk/roots dimension.
Producers:
- Tommy LiPuma: Her primary producer during her breakthrough and peak commercial years (1996-2009). Shaped her signature Verve sound with warmth and clarity.
- Elvis Costello: Co-wrote songs and produced The Girl in the Other Room, Wallflower, and co-produced This Dream of You. Brought a different songwriting and sonic perspective.
- T-Bone Burnett: Produced Glad Rag Doll, guiding its distinctive vintage aesthetic.
Guest Artists & Special Collaborations:
- Tony Bennett: Duet on “Best Is Yet To Come” (Duets: An American Classic).
- Ray Charles: Duet on “You Don’t Know Me” (Genius Loves Company).
- Paul McCartney: Duet on a cover of McCartney’s “If I Take You Home Tonight” (unreleased session, performed live).
- Barbra Streisand: Duet on “I’ve Got a Crush on You” (Streisand’s Partners album).
- Claus Ogerman, Johnny Mandel, Alan Broadbent (Arrangers): Crafted the lush orchestral backdrops for her most commercially successful albums.
- Natalie Cole: Performed together on various occasions, sharing a love for Nat King Cole’s legacy.
- Countless Jazz Musicians: Appears on albums or in concerts with artists like Clark Terry, Stanley Turrentine, Benny Green, and more.

V. Chord Progressions and Music Harmony: Sophisticated Reinvention

Krall’s harmonic language, heavily shaped by Jimmy Rowles and Bill Evans, is a key element of her artistry:

Reharmonization: She frequently alters the underlying chords of standards:
- Tritone Substitutions: Replacing a dominant 7th chord (e.g., G7) with one a tritone away (Db7), creating a chromatic bass line and richer harmonic tension/resolution. Common in tunes like “East of the Sun.”
- Extended & Altered Chords: Liberally using 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, flat 9s, sharp 11s, etc., adding color and complexity. A simple C major might become Cmaj9 or C6/9.
- Chord Scale Relationships: Employing scales beyond the basic major/minor over chords (e.g., Lydian over Maj7#11, altered scale over dominant 7alt chords).
- Modal Interchange: Borrowing chords from parallel minor/major keys for unexpected harmonic shifts (e.g., using a iv minor chord in a major key).
- Secondary Dominants & Turnarounds: Using intricate chains of dominant chords leading to temporary key centers before resolving back, adding sophistication to basic progressions.
Voicings: Her piano voicings are legendary for their richness:
- Drop 2 & Drop 3: Common jazz techniques creating open, spread-out sounds.
- Cluster Voicings (Subtle): Using close intervals carefully for added tension or color, often influenced by Evans.
- Quartal Voicings: Stacking fourths (e.g., C-F-Bb-Eb) instead of thirds, creating a modern, ambiguous harmony. Prevalent in intros and comping.
- Rootless Voicings: Leaving out the root note (often played by bass), focusing on extensions and colors higher up.
Bass Movement: Her left hand often creates strong, melodic bass lines, not just root notes, interacting contrapuntally with her right hand and voice. This is core to the “trio” feel.

VI. Influences: The Roots of Her Artistry

Krall’s sound is a tapestry woven from diverse threads:

Pianists: Nat King Cole (trio format, singing/piano integration, swing), Fats Waller (stride, joy), Oscar Peterson (virtuosity, swing), Bill Evans (harmony, touch, lyricism), Tommy Flanagan (taste, accompaniment), Jimmy Rowles (harmony, mentorship, song interpretation), Erroll Garner (rhythmic exuberance).
Singers: Nat King Cole (phrasing, tone), Frank Sinatra (phrasing, swing, masculine directness she adapted), Ella Fitzgerald (scatting, joy), Carmen McRae (directness, rhythmic complexity), Shirley Horn (intimacy, space, piano/vocal integration), Peggy Lee (subtlety, cool).
Instrumentalists: Lester Young (tenor sax – lyrical, behind-the-beat phrasing), Stan Getz (bossa, melodic beauty), Miles Davis (space, mood), Chet Baker (vulnerability, trumpet-like vocal phrasing).
Songwriters: The Great American Songbook composers (Gershwin, Porter, etc.), Joni Mitchell (lyricism, Canadian connection), Bob Dylan (songwriting depth explored on Wallflower), Tom Waits (eclecticism, character explored on Glad Rag Doll).

VII. Legacy: The Keeper of the Flame and the Bridge Builder

Diana Krall’s legacy is multifaceted and profound:

Popularizing Jazz for a New Generation: Her massive commercial success in the late 90s/early 2000s brought jazz standards and sophisticated arrangements to an audience far beyond traditional jazz listeners. She became a gateway artist.
Championing the Songbook: She has been a vital force in keeping the Great American Songbook relevant and accessible in the 21st century, interpreting it with both reverence and fresh perspective.
Elevating the Singing Pianist Tradition: She stands as the most prominent and successful heir to the Nat King Cole lineage, demonstrating the power and intimacy of integrating voice and piano at the highest level.
Artistic Integrity: Despite massive popularity, she has consistently followed her artistic muse, whether diving into orchestral pop, exploring roots music with Burnett, or returning to acoustic jazz core. She hasn’t been confined by expectations.
Influence on Musicians: Her harmonic sophistication, rhythmic feel, and integrated piano/vocal approach have influenced countless singers and pianists. She sets a high bar for musicality and taste.
Ambassador of Canadian Arts: As an Order of Canada recipient and global star, she is one of Canada’s most celebrated cultural exports.

VIII. Works: Beyond Albums

Concert Tours: Krall is a dedicated and captivating live performer, touring extensively worldwide almost constantly, bringing her intimate musical conversation to vast audiences.
Film & TV Appearances: While not an actress per se, her music is frequently featured in film and TV soundtracks. She appeared as herself in De-Lovely (2004), performing Cole Porter songs, and in the documentary Diana Krall: Live in Rio (2009).

IX. Discography: A Journey Through Sound

Stepping Out (Justin Time, 1993)
Only Trust Your Heart (GRP/Impulse!, 1995)
All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio (Impulse!, 1996)
Love Scenes (Impulse!, 1997)
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (EP, Impulse!, 1998)
When I Look in Your Eyes (Verve, 1999)
The Look of Love (Verve, 2001)
Live in Paris (Verve, 2002)
The Girl in the Other Room (Verve, 2004)
Christmas Songs (Verve, 2005)
From This Moment On (Verve, 2006)
The Very Best of Diana Krall (Compilation, Verve, 2007)
Quiet Nights (Verve, 2009)
Glad Rag Doll (Verve, 2012)
Wallflower (Verve, 2015)
Turn Up the Quiet (Verve, 2017)
Love Is Here to Stay (with Tony Bennett, Verve, 2018)
This Dream of You (Verve, 2020)
Only Trust Your Heart (Live) (Verve, 2023)

X. Most Known Compositions and Performances

Signature Covers:
- “The Look of Love” (Bacharach/David) – Her definitive, sultry version.
- “‘S Wonderful” (Gershwin/Gershwin) – Often a swinging trio showcase.
- “Peel Me a Grape” (Dave Frishberg) – Perfectly encapsulates her wry, sophisticated persona.
- “East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)” (Bowman) – Features classic Krall trio interplay and reharmonization.
- “Fly Me to the Moon” (Howard) – A standard made fresh with her rhythmic feel and phrasing.
- “Let’s Fall in Love” (Arlen/Koehler) – Exuberant swing, often an opener.
- “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” (Porter) – Dramatic, building arrangement, common in live sets.
- “Temptation” (Porter) – Sultry, bluesy rendition.
- “Desperado” (Henley/Frey) – Her poignant take on the Eagles classic from Wallflower.
Original Compositions (often with Costello):
- “Narrow Daylight” (The Girl in the Other Room)
- “The Girl in the Other Room” (The Girl in the Other Room)
- “Departure Bay” (The Girl in the Other Room) – A beautiful, nostalgic ode to her hometown.
- “Abandoned Masquerade” (Glad Rag Doll)
Live Performances:
- Her concerts are renowned for their intimacy, virtuosity, and deep swing. Extended piano solos, playful interplay with the band, and that unique conversational delivery make each performance special. Recordings like Live in Paris and Live at the Montreal Jazz Festival capture this magic.

Diana Krall: The Enduring Alchemy

Diana Krall is more than a musician; she is an atmosphere. She creates a world of sophisticated intimacy, where the complexities of jazz harmony meet the directness of a heartfelt story. Her success lies not just in technical mastery – though her piano playing is exceptional – but in her ability to make the personal universal.

Whether swinging hard with a trio, floating over lush strings, exploring bluesy roots, or reimagining a pop classic, she remains utterly recognizable: that smoky voice, that impeccable time, those rich chords, that sense of being let in on a secret. She is a keeper of the flame for jazz traditions, a fearless explorer of new territory, and above all, a consummate communicator through the timeless language of song.

Her legacy as one of the defining jazz artists of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, who brought the art form to millions without compromising its essence, is assured. Diana Krall continues to turn musical lead into gold, one intimate note at a time.

List of awards and nominations received by Diana Krall