Since her debut Stepping Out (1993), Diana Krall can count herself as one of the most popular jazz vocalists. The American singer with the low, sultry voice has sold more than fifteen million records in the light jazz genre. Krall is sometimes accused of performing the same (type of) material and playing it safe. This is not entirely unjustified, because Krall usually does not shy away from bringing
… a standard that has already been performed thousands of times. One look at her eleventh CD Glad Rag Doll and you immediately see that Krall is not coming up with a dull record this time. She is depicted in the artwork as a graceful revue dancer, as if trying to entice the listener to give this album a try. It is a reference to the 'roaring twenties', the wild extravagant years before the economic crisis and the Second World War. On Glad Rag Doll Krall mainly performs material from this period. Under the direction of producer T-Bone Burnett she continues to excel for thirteen songs as we are used to from her, but the whole feels a bit more daring, exciting and naughty than usual. (JE)more