Diana Krall: The Very Best Of Diana Krall

Diana Krall's "The Very Best Of": Comprehensive Introduction, Compromised Sound

Diana Krall stands as one of contemporary jazz's most celebrated vocalists. While her distinctive voice commands immediate attention, she's equally accomplished as a pianist—a dual talent that has helped her achieve the unique distinction of having eight albums debut atop the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

An Artist's Legacy
Krall's artistic standing remains justifiably secure and undeniable. Her interpretations of jazz standards consistently demonstrate exceptional taste and musical insight, while her original compositions represent meaningful contributions to the genre. "The Very Best of Diana Krall," released in 2007, attempts to compile her career highlights into a single cohesive collection.

Compilation Limitations
As Christopher Loudon aptly noted in JazzTimes, "The title begs a rather obvious question: Do these 15 tracks, spanning 10 years and six albums, truly represent the very best of Diana Krall? The answer is equally obvious: of course not. How could they?..."

This compilation provides a serviceable cross-section of tracks beginning with her 1996 breakthrough album "All for You" through 2006's "From This Moment On." For listeners unfamiliar with Krall's extensive catalog, this collection offers an accessible entry point and creates a perfect atmospheric backdrop for romantic evenings by the fireplace with wine in hand.

Vinyl Sound Quality
From an audiophile perspective, this pressing suffers from limitations common to most mass-produced greatest hits albums. Like many compilations, it appears to rely on digitally sourced masters without the dedicated remastering effort that specialized audiophile labels typically invest.
The resulting sound quality is adequate but unremarkable. Dynamic range compression flattens the emotional impact of Krall's performances, while detail retrieval falls noticeably short of what dedicated pressings of her individual albums can achieve. Surface noise intrudes between tracks and occasionally during quieter passages, further detracting from the listening experience.

The music occasionally exhibits the telltale signs of digital compression—restricted dynamic contrasts, a somewhat two-dimensional soundstage, and a lack of the natural decay that gives acoustic jazz its organic warmth. These shortcomings, while disappointing, are unfortunately common in mainstream compilation releases focused more on commercial accessibility than audiophile excellence.

The Vinyl Verdict
For casual listeners seeking an introduction to Krall's impressive body of work or those primarily interested in background music for social gatherings, this compilation serves its purpose adequately. The song selection provides a solid overview of her earlier career trajectory and showcases her interpretive strengths.
However, listeners hoping for an immersive audiophile experience would be better served by seeking out Original Recordings Group (ORG) pressings of her individual albums. These dedicated audiophile editions reveal nuances, textures, and emotional depths in Krall's performances that this compilation simply cannot match.

"The Very Best of Diana Krall" successfully collects career highlights in one convenient package, but serious vinyl enthusiasts will likely find its sonic limitations outweigh its curatorial convenience. 💵

💰 Invest
 💵 Consider
💸 Pass