Whatever you may think of Diana's more recent crossover music (Which I think is brilliant), this early album Demonstrates CLEARLY did 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 is not 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 thatwill 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.
