When I first bought Diana Krall's, "Only Trust Your Heart", I gave it one or two listens and then put it away being not too impressed. Then about a year later I saw her in concert where she opened with a tune called "I Love Being Here With You". I couldnt figure out at the concert, where this energetic little opener had come from. It turned out to be on the before mentioned CD. I gave "Only Trust Your Heart a relisten and I realized, what a wonderful jazz album it really is.I think the reason I like "Only Trust Your Heart" is because it sounds so unlike Diana's other albums. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of Ms.Krall and her other albums.I love that smokey, honey-tinged voice and her wonderful piano stylings. But on this particlar album, rather then her usual sexy whisper, she seems to belt them out with a roar.Also her band seems more at the forefront of the production including a very sassy turn by veteran sax player, Stanley Turentine.There are plenty of song stand outs including "Is You or Is You My Baby" and "I've Got the World On A String."A special mention should be made also for the lovely ballad "Folks Who Live On the Hill." This is a really good jazz CD, that grows on you after a few listens.

My Diana Krall collection started with "All For you" and continued with "Love Scenes" and "When I Look in Your Eye's", but I have since gone back to her earlier work like "Only Trust Your Heart" and I find it every bit as enjoyable as her more recent recordings. I guess I am most impressed with Diana's ability to sell the lyrics to almost any song she sings. There are some that contend that her vocal talents may lack the polish of a Natalie Cole, but nobody could ever question the passion and emotion she puts into every track. Her soft, breathy, often sexy vocals have a certain charm that can't be denied. As a pianist she shines, no matter the tempo. She has a tremendous amount of talent and an almost natural instinct for the genre, and you can hear the influence of Nat King Cole, and Jimmy Rowels in nearly everything she plays. If you are already a Diana Krall fan, or if you looking to become one, this is a great CD. Pick it up, give it a listen, and hear what so many others are already enjoying.

Whatever you may think of Diana's more recent crossover music (which I think is brilliant), this early album demonstrates clearly that her music is rooted in jazz. There is no crossover here - it's pure jazz. Diana sings and plays piano, backed by a small but select band comprising a bass player (sometimes Ray Brown, sometimes Christian McBride), a drummer (Lewis Nash) and a ten saxophonist (Stanley Turrentine).

Like so many of Diana's albums, this one relies heavily on songs from the first half of the twentieth century, beginning with Louis Jordan's classic Is you or is you ain't my baby. Other classic songs featured here include Squeeze me (Duke Ellington) and two songs associated with Peggy Lee (I love being here with you, The folks who live on the hill). The only original is the closing bluesy instrumental, CRS craft.

This is a fine album that will particularly appeal to jazz aficionados. It may even expand the market as fans of Diana's later music learn to appreciate jazz. But some of those fans may not like this - if in doubt, listen to some of it before buying.

Another Diana disc in my collection, can I say anything bad about this one, NO. My favorites on this disc are, "Only Trust Your Heart", "Folks Who Live On The Hill", "I've Got The World On A String", "All Night Long", and the old Fats Waller tune "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby" which Diana gives her own treatment and flavor to. If this disc is missing from your Diana Krall collection I suggest you get out there and scoop it up!

Oddly, little mention in the customer reviews of Stanley Turrentine's presence on the recording. It's what makes this album different from --and hotter than --any other of Ms. Krall's fabulous work. Example: No doubt about it --Diana and the band supremely cook on the song "I Love Being Here with You" from her latest Paris live recordings. But on this version, Turrentine's tenor sax steers the tune up the onramp and into overdrive. He's jazzy enough to be interesting but stays sane and faithful to the melody. Which matches Diana's musical style, I think. But whether it's Stanley Turrentine, Ray Brown, Christian McBride, Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, etc., it's testament to Ms. Krall's ability to attract and lead such superb associates. And at such a tender age, though she was no overnight sensation at this point, having played professionally since her teens.

Still, one of my favorites cuts on the CD is saxless: the dreamy "All Night Long." Diana's lilting piano solo and sultriness interpret the plaintive mood of the piece perfectly.

Her three subsequent recordings are maybe a little more softened and refined. That's not at all a bad thing, but I tend to listen more to this CD, its predecessor, "Stepping Out" or the two recent killers "The Look of Love" and "Live in Paris." "Only Trust Your Heart," among all her recordings, is Diana at her most muscular, both vocally and instrumentally. Even on the slower pieces she reaches decibel levels more likely to be heard only in her concerts. Maybe it's Turrentine's influence. In any case, it's just nice to hear Diana prove that she can belt `em out.