Diana Krall – The Look Of Love

Diana Krall opens the room

On The Look of Love, Diana Krall expands her jazz ensemble with two orchestras in 2001. Her voice and piano remain the starting point, with arrangements written and conducted by Claus Ogerman. Producer Tommy LiPuma and recording engineer Al Schmitt help place the intimacy of a small group within a larger musical setting.

The sessions connect three cities. The band records at Avatar Studios in New York in January; the London Symphony Orchestra adds its parts at Abbey Road in March. Three further selections are recorded at Capitol Studios in Hollywood in June with a Los Angeles Session Orchestra. The finished sequence brings together several months of carefully coordinated work.

Small groups and orchestras

Christian McBride plays bass on all ten tracks. Peter Erskine and Jeff Hamilton share the drum duties; Russell Malone, Romero Lubambo, John Pisano and Dori Caymmi contribute guitar on different selections. Luis Conte and Paulinho da Costa add percussion to specific tracks. The musician list below sets out the individual assignments.

Ogerman brings experience reaching deep into Verve’s history. He has also worked with LiPuma and Schmitt before: all three contributed to João Gilberto’s Amoroso, which likewise includes “S’Wonderful” and “Besame Mucho”. Here those songs meet a different singer and pianist, offering an appealing route from familiar repertoire to fresh musical connections.

Ten songs of intimacy and longing

Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s title song became known through Dusty Springfield’s performance in the 1967 film Casino Royale. Krall places it alongside “Cry Me a River”, “Love Letters”, “Dancing in the Dark” and other standards. In her contemporary account, an initial selection of around 25 songs led to 17 recordings and a final programme of ten.

Listen for the exchanges between voice, piano and orchestra: when does the singer lead, when does an instrument answer, and when does the arrangement open out? Al Schmitt received the 2002 Grammy for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for his work here. The award recognises the recording, rather than any particular subsequent vinyl pressing.

The Look of Love on two LPs

This Acoustic Sounds Series edition, AVER 898680, contains the ten album tracks on two 180-gram LPs at 33⅓ RPM. Bernie Grundman is responsible for mastering and cutting; his BG initials also appear in the runouts. The label identifies original analogue tapes as the source. Quality Record Pressings manufactures the records, housed in a Stoughton tip-on gatefold jacket.

This edition brings the 2001 orchestral album to a carefully produced vinyl release. Listeners familiar with Krall’s smaller groups can explore how she shapes a programme within a larger ensemble.

You order from Michael 45 in Germany. We arrange the US import and ship from Hilden.

More by Diana Krall: When I Look In Your Eyes

Musicians

Participants and documented credit status. Track references correspond to the tracklist.

• Diana Krallpiano, vocalsParticipation: Album personnel
• Christian McBridebassParticipation: Album personnel
• Jeff HamiltondrumsParticipation: A1, A3, B2
• Peter ErskinedrumsParticipation: A2, B1, C1, C2, C3, D1, D2
• Paulinho da CostapercussionParticipation: A1, A3, B2
• Luis ContepercussionParticipation: C2, D1
• Dori CaymmiguitarParticipation: A1
• John PisanoguitarParticipation: A3, B2
• Russell MaloneguitarParticipation: A2, B1, C1, C3, D2
• Romero LubamboguitarParticipation: C2, D1
• Claus Ogermanorchestral arrangement, conductingParticipation: Album personnel
• London Symphony OrchestraorchestraParticipation: A2, B1, C1, C2, C3, D1, D2
• Los Angeles Session OrchestraorchestraParticipation: A1, A3, B2

Diana Krall (piano, vocals), Christian McBride (bass), Peter Erskine (drums; A2, B1, C1–D2), Jeff Hamilton (drums; A1, A3, B2), Russell Malone (guitar; A2, B1, C1, C3, D2), Romero Lubambo (guitar; C2, D1), John Pisano (guitar; A3, B2), Dori Caymmi (guitar; A1), Paulinho da Costa (percussion; A1, A3, B2), Luis Conte (percussion; C2, D1). London Symphony Orchestra (A2, B1, C1–D2) and Los Angeles Session Orchestra (A1, A3, B2), arranged and conducted by Claus Ogerman. Recorded in 2001 at Avatar Studios (New York), Abbey Road Studios (London) and Capitol Studios (Hollywood). Produced by Tommy LiPuma. Recorded and mixed by Al Schmitt. This edition: mastered and cut by Bernie Grundman (Bernie Grundman Mastering), pressed at Quality Record Pressings, supervised by Chad Kassem.