Diana Krall

At the outset of her career in the 1990s, Diana Krall appeared to be a throwback to a different, classier era — specifically, the mid-20th century, when the Great American Songbook experienced a revival in the hands of singers such as Nat King Cole. Krall’s 1996 breakthrough, All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio, deliberately paid tribute to this period, but Krall didn’t focus merely on singing the song in an old-fashioned way: as the subtitle of All for Yousuggested, Krall placed equal emphasis on the piano playing. It was a conscious decision that gave her music an elegance and elasticity that has served her well. Although she often returned to the classic songs written in the first half of the 20th century, Krall expanded the definition of the American Songbook to encompass bossa nova and pop/rock singer/songwriters, occasionally exploring forgotten sectors of 20th-century pop and jazz. Throughout her career, Krall has managed to balance traditionalism with a sense of stylish adventure, which has helped her retain both a jazz and crossover audience.