This is a great CD: vintage Diana Krall before the marketing folks at GRP Records got ahold of her career. Unlike her three most recent albums of "easy listening" music, which see her talents as a jazz singer and pianist well hidden, this album swings! Unlike the overly-breathy sultriness of recent efforts, her singing style here is strong and effortless, reminiscent of Shirley Horn or Rosemary Clooney. Her playing, even at this early stage of her career, is melodic and complementary to her vocal phrasing. I owned the original release when it came out in '93, and just bought this remastered edition, which is well worth it. The sound quality was already just fine, but this new version is better yet, with increased detail and soundstage. Best of all, there is a bonus track, which was omitted from the original release, and is a real treat for a longtime Diana fan. After the disappointing schmaltz of Love Scenes and The Look of Love, it was exhilarating to hear a new track of Ms. Krall singing and swinging again!!

Although this was Diana's first release (in Canada) it wasn't released in the states until she had a few other releases to her credit. This wasn't the first disc of Diana's that I purchased but when it was released I wanted to hear her early works, and in my opinion it is very pleasing. She paid tribute to Nat King Cole on this disc with "Straighten Up And Fly Right" and also "Frim Fram Sauce" which she also recorded again for the "All For You" disc which was a tribute to Nat King Cole. My favorites besides the ones I previously mentioned are, "This Can't Be Love", "I'm Just A Lucky So And So", "Body And Soul", and "Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me". I suggest picking up this disc if you want to see the direction Diana was heading for and mastered when she got there.

After viewing Diana Kral's outstanding DVD, "Live in Paris", I've grown to appreciate what an outstanding talent she is and how far she can still go, particularly when compared to her initial cd, "Stepping Out."

"Stepping Out" is Diana Krall's first album and in many ways is still one of her best, particularly because of its pure jazz sensibilities. Here, her vocals are not her strong suit. While clear, heartfelt and energetic, they are also often brash, harsh and annoying. But compare her here with her recent singing and you are impressed with how far she has come and what a fine singer she is today (she needs to focus more on her piano skills).

Along with John Clayton on bass and Jeff Hamilton on drums (her idols and still a mainstay in her regular group) she has created a cd that reminds me a lot of early 1960's dates for labels like Roulette, Prestige and Blue Note. She is clearly trying to say "I'm a jazz musician first and foremost and I want you to listen to all of us swing."

And it works. She gets into a fine groove on "This Can't Be Love" and "On the Sunny Side of the Street", two of my favorites. There are also straight instrumental tracks, something she has not done since, such as "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea", "42nd Street" and "Big Foot" where Clayton and Hamilton get some room to stretch out. Diana's own style is a veritable who's who of modern jazz pianists including Monty Alexander, Ahmad Jamal and Bill Evans among others.

True Diana Krall fans will want this one. Those who are more inclined to her excellent, but more pop oriented "The Look of Love", may want to skip "Stepping Out."

Diana Krall is currently the top female jazz vocalist-musician on the scene today. This album, her debute, proves why. I know of no one even non-jazz listeners who dislike her. Her arrangements matched with her smooth sexy, sultry voice are Jazz standards performed at their best. No strings in these arrangements to get in the way. Only piano, bass, drums & that voice. Buy this one and every other cd Diana has out. All her albums are pure Jazz perfection. I know of no venue of Jazz and no single performer who you can listen to over and over and over again without tiring than Diana Krall!!!

Someone in the LA Times used the phrase "jazz-lite" to describe Krall after she won the Grammy. I guess if it's melodic and beautiful it can't be jazz-hevi -- even if it swings down to your big toe. Baloney! Diana is the best thing to hit jazz for a long time. And others feel that she is the wrong color to do real jazz. It don't make no difference. Oscar Petersen, another great Canadian, is Black and a guy. Krall is white and a gal. It don't make no difference. Louis Armstrong once told me there is only two kinds of music: good and bad. This "early" album shows that Diana has had it, that is the God-given genius to make good music, nearly from the beginning. Unless a bus hits her, she's gonna be around far longer than I will. Strangely,I like that thought. It warms me like a good Bonded bourbon, sort of lke Diana's soft, smokey voice warms me. BB