Diane's Standards
5
By a song 4u
This cd is a return of sorts for Diane, she's covered a myriad of standards on her various albums but very few in her catalog are dedicated to the all standard format and those that are are augmented by a big band or full orchestra backing. This cd is Diane interpreting standards backed by only rhythm section which really makes her maturing voice and subdued readings stand out that much more.
An interesting track is track 12, with it's worn tape sound which is authentic since the song was recorded live in 1964. Diane's voice may have burnished a bit with time but given the evidence of the vintage recording not that much. "My Favorite Things" which has become a Christmas standard will probably be added to radio stations holiday playlist, it certainly is deserving. With her last album "Live In London" released on a Universal label I thougt she left Concord, I'm glad to see that's not the case as Concord is a terrific label that really supports it's artists. When Diane signed to the Concord label her output has just gotton so much better and the quality of the releases eclipes her early eighties albums when signed to GRP. Overall all the tracks are standout and I'd say this cd is a worthy addition to Diane's impressive catalog.
