Diana Krall – When I Look In Your Eyes

A singer opens out the setting

With When I Look In Your Eyes, Diana Krall broadened the setting of her music in 1999. Voice, piano and the familiar work of a small jazz group meet orchestral arrangements by Johnny Mandel. The basic recordings were made in autumn 1998 at Avatar Studios in New York, with orchestral parts added at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles. Tommy LiPuma produced; Al Schmitt recorded and mixed the album.

That combination makes the record rewarding to approach as a whole. The larger ensemble introduces additional colours while Krall’s work as pianist and singer remains the starting point. Listening can follow both levels: the direct exchange within the small group and the way the arrangements give the songs a wider setting.

The musicians behind the songs

Russell Malone plays guitar on all twelve selections. John Clayton and Ben Wolfe share the bass duties, with Jeff Hamilton and Lewis Nash appearing on drums according to the track. Larry Bunker’s vibraphone is documented on “Let’s Fall In Love” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”. Personnel change within the programme, making the track-specific credits particularly useful.

Johnny Mandel is credited with orchestral arrangements and conducting; Eddie Karam also receives a conducting credit. Krall and her fellow musicians shape the smaller ensemble arrangements as well. The names behind the singer tell us a great deal about the work involved. They also offer a reason to return: one play might follow Malone’s guitar, another the bass, drums or additional orchestral colours.

A songbook across four sides

“Let’s Face The Music And Dance” opens the programme, followed by “Devil May Care” and “Let’s Fall In Love”. The title track begins the second side. Between “Popsicle Toes”, “East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon)” and “Do It Again”, the repertoire brings different songwriting traditions together. Familiar melodies provide orientation while leaving room for individual interpretation.

At the 2000 Grammys, the album won for jazz vocal performance and Al Schmitt received the engineering award. It was also nominated for Album of the Year. The double LP offered here contains twelve tracks. The additional CD selection “Why Should I Care” is not part of its programme. Its four sides follow the sequence documented for this vinyl edition.

The Acoustic Sounds Series double LP

This Verve release carries catalogue number AVER 512454. Two 180-gram LPs are pressed at Quality Record Pressings and housed in a Stoughton Printing tip-on gatefold jacket. The publisher credits Bernie Grundman with mastering from the original analogue tapes.

Care for the recording began with its creation: LiPuma explicitly described the recording and mixing process as analogue in a contemporary interview. For this edition, the publisher’s source statement remains the relevant description. Together with the complete vinyl programme and spacious gatefold presentation, it makes a release that invites unhurried listening to Krall’s songs across four sides.

You order from Michael 45 in Germany. We arrange the US import and dispatch from Hilden. Editions not currently in stock are dispatched after the goods arrive.

More by Diana Krall: The Look Of Love

Series: Verve – all 34 records: voices, organ and bossa nova

Musicians

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

• Diana KrallVocals; piano except B1; arrangementsParticipation: A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, C3, D1, D2, D3
• Russell MaloneguitarParticipation: Album personnel
• John Claytondouble bass, co-arrangementsParticipation: A1, A3, B2, D1, D2, D3
• Ben Wolfedouble bassParticipation: A2, B3, C2, C3
• Jeff HamiltondrumsParticipation: A1, A3, B2, D1, D2, D3
• Lewis NashdrumsParticipation: B3, C2
• Larry BunkervibraphoneParticipation: A3, B3
• Johnny Mandelorchestral arrangements, conductingParticipation: A1, A3, B1, B3, C2, D1, D3
• Eddie KaramconductorParticipation: A1, A3, B1, B3, C2, D1, D3

Diana Krall (vocals; piano except B1), Russell Malone (guitar), John Clayton (bass; A1, A3, B2, D1–D3), Ben Wolfe (bass; A2, B3, C2, C3), Jeff Hamilton (drums; A1, A3, B2, D1–D3), Lewis Nash (drums; B3, C2), Larry Bunker (vibraphone; A3, B3). Orchestra (musicians not credited) on A1, A3, B1, B3, C2, D1, D3: arranged and conducted by Johnny Mandel, conductor Eddie Karam. Small-ensemble arrangements by Diana Krall and trio; co-arrangements by Diana Krall and John Clayton. Produced by Tommy LiPuma; orchestral tracks co-produced by Johnny Mandel. Recorded and mixed by Al Schmitt (Avatar Studios, New York; orchestra at Capitol Studios, Los Angeles; mixed at Bill Schnee Studios). This edition: remastered and lacquer cut by Bernie Grundman; supervised by Chad Kassem; pressed at Quality Record Pressings.