Quiet Nights [Deluxe Edition]

Personnel: Diana Krall (vocals, piano); Elton John, Elvis Costello (vocals); Anthony Wilson (guitar); Joel Pargman, Eun Mee Ahn, David Ewart, Amy Wickman, Gil Romero, Katia Popov, Alan Grunfeld, Helen Nightengale, Barbara Porter, Mari Tsumura, Tamara Hatwan , Mario de León, Razdan Kuyumjian, Peter Kent, Yue Deng, Tiffiany Yi Hu, Darius Campo, Liane Mautner, Josefina Vergara, Caroline Campbell, Charlie Bisharat, Tereza Stanislav (violin); Dan Neufeld, Todd Marda, Thomas Diener, Victoria Miskolczy, Marlow Fisher, Matthew Funes , Kate Reddish, Marda Todd, Janet Lakatos, Dave Walther , Evan Wilson (viola); Trevor Handy, Rudy Stein, Timothy Landauer, Daniel Smith , Vanessa Freebairn-Smith, Antony Cooke , Larry Corbett, Cecilia Tsan, Steve Richards (cello); Heather Clark, Steve Kujala, Geri Rotella, David Shostac (flute); Earl Dumler (oboe); Joe Meyer , Richard Todd , Todd Miller, Bill Lane, Brad Warnaar (French horn); Doug Tornquist (tuba); Bob Zimmitti (vibraphone); Jeff Hamilton (drums, cymbals, percussion); Karriem Riggins (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion).
Audio Mixer: Al Schmitt.
Recording information: Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA.
Photographers: Daniel Behr; Robert Maxwell.
Arranger: Claus Ogerman.
Bossa nova is not unfamiliar to Diana Krall, but 2009's Quiet Nights is her first record devoted to the gently swaying rhythm. Teaming up again with arranger Claus Ogerman, who last worked with Krall on 2001's The Look of Love and who also frequently collaborated with bossa nova godfather Antonio Carlos Jobim, Krall winds up with a mellow, lazy album that recalls the relaxed late-night sophistication of Jobim's duet album with Frank Sinatra, which Ogerman also happened to arrange and conduct. It's not just the sound, it's the songs: how '60s standards like Bacharach/David's "Walk on By" sit next to three Jobim tunes, a song by Marcos Valle ("So Nice"), and a few American Songbook standards placed at the beginning, the better to ease listeners into purer bossa nova at the end. Then again, they don't need much persuasion -- if any music could be called accessible it's this, with its warm intimacy and classic good taste. If anything, there may be a bit too much classic good taste on Quiet Nights -- there is no reinterpretation, only homage -- but that's not quite a problem because Krall knows enough to lay back, to never push, only to glide upon the gossamer surface. After all, some things are timeless for a reason; they need no updating, only replicating. [This version was released with a bonus DVD of live performances from Madrid, as well as a version of "Makin Whoopee" featuring Elvis Costello and Elton John.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine