MY VIEW
Music: 'The Girl in the Other Room' by Diana Krall

By Jeremy Castillo
Special to The Advertiser

The Verdict: THE RATINGS 5 — Outstanding: Add it to your collection now. A must-have. 4 — Great: Buy it or rent it — definitely listen to it. 3 — Good: Worth listening to despite some flaws. 2 — Fair: Unless you're a fan of the group or singer, don't bother. 1 — Poor: Save your money (and your ears).

Release: April 27, 2004

Style: Jazz

My take: Diana Krall is a native of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. When she was 4, she began classical piano lessons and joined the school jazz band in high school. She went to Berklee Music College in the 1980s and lived in Los Angeles, Toronto and New York before inking her first deal with Justin Time records.

Over the years, she released several albums with a few different labels. The albums included a Nat King Cole tribute album, a Christmas album and 1999's "When I Look in Your Eyes," a record that won a Grammy for best jazz vocal performance and became the first jazz album in 25 years to be nominated for album of the year.

Her 2004 release "The Girl in the Other Room" is about as groundbreaking for Krall, in terms of artist endeavors. In typical fashion, Krall covers some classic songs such as "Black Crow" by Joni Mitchell (by far the best cover on this CD), "Temptation" by Tom Waits and "Love Me Like A Man" by Chris Smithers. But this time around, Krall branched out and co-wrote six of the 12 songs on this CD with husband Elvis Costello. She also covers his song, "Almost Blue."

The difference in the two sets of songs — covers and originals — can be heard by the more discerning listener. When Krall sings covers, it's clear she is trying to put her own stamp on the song through brooding and sultry, yet carefully used, vocals. On her own material, she is a little bolder. This is understandable because this is her first shot at performing original material, so she's required to go out on a limb a little more.

Songs that she and Costello wrote together are very good. Krall's voice is even more elegant on these tracks, which helps bring out the melancholy setting of "Abandoned Masquerade," a tune of dying love; and "I've Changed My Address," an evocative tale of a person looking back. The best song on this album is the title track, "The Girl in the Other Room." Everything about this song is done near-perfectly and listening to it intently enough will transport any listener, jazz fan or not, into the lounges in the era of Sinatra and Dean Martin, with the booze flowing and the smoke creating a haze throughout the room.

Jazz music's popularity has unfortunately diminished through the years. I have a soft spot for jazz in my heart because listening to it brings a certain imagery of sophistication and grace that other music, no matter what genre or when it was made, doesn't. Diana Krall brings to the table a parlance in her music that is as inviting as it is disturbing.

I'd recommend this CD to anyone with the same soft spot for jazz that I have or anyone who's looking to get into the genre as a fan.

Jeremy Castillo is a student at Windward Community College.

Have a game or CD you want to review? Reach Island Life deputy editor Dave Dondoneau at ddondoneau@honoluluadvertiser.com.