The Girl In The Other Room
Singer/pianist Diana Krall breaks new ground interpreting modern standards byTom Waits,Mose Allison, andJoni Mitchell, as well as compositions by herself and new husband,Elvis Costello. Krall's piano-jazz cred comes through loudly and clearly on herCount Basie-styled version of theBonnie Raittstaple "Love Me Like a Man" (written by folk-bluesmanChris Smither). But it's the collaborations with her spouse that unearth untapped emotional nuances of her velvet voice; many are reminiscent ofBill Evans's moody, impressionistic pieces. The title track, "Narrow Daylight," "Abandoned Masquerade," and "I’m Coming Through" all deal with love and loss. "Departure Bay," a picturesque ode to her hometown of Nanaimo, B.C., proves that this is the start of something big, and that two heads--and hearts--are better than one.--Eugene Holley Jr.