Stepping Out
Diana Krall · 1993
54 min · 11 tracks · jazz
A sultry blend of classic jazz standards infused with Krall's smoky vocals and intricate piano arrangements.
Top tracks — play these first
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Body and Soul — This track showcases Krall's ability to convey deep emotion through her phrasing and piano playing, highlighting her interpretive skills on a well-known standard.
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Straighten Up and Fly Right — Krall's upbeat rendition breathes new life into this classic tune, demonstrating her knack for blending tradition with a contemporary swing feel.
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Frim Fram Sauce — This playful track allows Krall to flaunt her vocal dexterity and charming personality, making it a standout moment on the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Krall's debut blends strong compositions with skilled performances, establishing her voice in jazz.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of piano as the lead instrument, with Krall's vocals interwoven throughout most tracks.
- Each track is arranged to highlight both vocal and instrumental sections, often alternating between them.
- Several songs include extended instrumental solos that showcase Krall's piano skills, particularly in 'Body and Soul' and 'Frim Fram Sauce'.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady, consistent energy levels
- sultry late-night ambiance
- intimate listening experiences
- smooth background for conversations
- gradual builds and payoffs
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Diana Krall's debut album, Stepping Out, was released in 1993 when she was just starting to gain recognition in the jazz scene. At this point in her career, she had already honed her skills as a pianist and vocalist, but this album marked her first major foray into recording professionally, establishing her signature style that would define her future works.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Norah Jones· Madeleine Peyroux· Jane Monheit
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 This Can't Be Love 4:29
- 2 Straighten Up and Fly Right 3:53
- 3 Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea 4:01
- 4 I'm Just a Lucky So and So 4:19
- 5 Body and Soul 5:33
- 6 42nd Street 6:15
- 7 Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me 4:26
- 8 Big Foot 7:03
- 9 Frim Fram Sauce 4:06
- 10 Jimmie 5:18
- 11 As Long as I Live 4:41
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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