The Look of Love is the sixth studio album by Canadian singer Diana Krall, released on September 18, 2001, by Verve Records. It became Krall's first album to top the Canadian Albums Chart. In 2002, the album earned Al Schmitt the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, and received the Juno Award for Album of the Year in Canada.

Arranger Claus Ogerman uses a similar orchestration for "S'Wonderful" as the one he wrote for the 1976 João Gilberto album Amoroso.

Critical reception

Jim Santella of All About Jazz commented, "Lush strings and gliding flutes surround Diana Krall's tender vocals. Even her substantial piano interludes take on the appearance of drifting mists, through the mix of orchestral timbres. With an emphasis on her sultry vocal interpretations, the latest album reaches out to a broad, popular music audience. Nothing wrong with that. It's just that jazz fans usually want the improvised licks along with their melodies... By interpreting classic love songs, Krall's latest album turns toward romantic interests. The clutter of a large string orchestra, however, obscures the total picture".

John Kreicbergs of PopMatters wrote, "Simply said, her piano chops are more than adequate to back up her incredible voice. Yet this is exactly what makes The Look of Love so maddening. Krall's piano work is practically nonexistent on most of the tracks, save for a few perfunctory solos that often sink into in a sea of overly lush string and orchestral arrangements".

Doug Ramsey of JazzTimes stated, "The songs, including Burt Bacharach's title tune, are superb. The arrangements and performances enhance them. Krall's singing has improved with her every album. It is at a high level. If her record company can make her a major star with albums this good, and if it doesn't push her piano further into the background, serious listeners should have no complaint". A reviewer of Cosmopolis noted, "With her new album The Look of Love, Diana Krall confirms her exceptional status as a jazz singer. Her new CD is a touch too polished, too clean, but never kitsch, as one might have feared, since the album was recorded together with the London Symphony Orchestra. But the special, sometimes rough-edged character of her previous recordings is missing".

Track listing

Personnel Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Look of Love.

Musicians

Diana Krall – piano, vocals Dori Caymmi – guitar Christian McBride – bass Jeff Hamilton – drums Paulinho da Costa – percussion Los Angeles Session Orchestra – orchestra Russell Malone – guitar Peter Erskine – drums London Symphony Orchestra – orchestra John Pisano – guitar Romero Lubambo – guitar Luis Conte – percussion Claus Ogerman – orchestra arrangement, conducting

Technical

Tommy LiPuma – production Al Schmitt – recording, mixing Aya Takemura – engineering assistance Chris Clark – engineering assistance Richard Lancaster – engineering assistance John Hendrickson – engineering assistance ; additional engineering Doug Sax – mastering Robert Hadley – mastering Bill Smith – engineering assistance Nat Peck – contractor for the London Symphony Orchestra Jules Chaikin – contractor for the Los Angeles Session Orchestra

Artwork

Hollis King – art direction Isabelle Wong – design Donna Ranieri – photography production Bruce Weber – photography Jane Shirek – photos of Diana Krall in car

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2001–2002) Peakposition Australian Jazz & Blues Albums (ARIA) 1 European Albums (Music & Media) 14 Japanese Albums (Oricon) 34 Portuguese Albums (AFP) 1 Spanish Albums (AFYVE) 17 Swedish Jazz Albums (Sverigetopplistan) 1 US Traditional Jazz Albums (Billboard) 1

Year-end charts +Year-end chart performance for The Look of Love by Diana Krall Chart (2001) Position Australian Albums (ARIA) 95 Australian Jazz & Blues Albums (ARIA) 1Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) 8Canadian Jazz Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) 1 European Albums (Music & Media) 97 French Albums (SNEP) 41 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 46 US Billboard 200 195 US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard) 1

Chart (2002) Position Australian Albums (ARIA) 37 Australian Jazz & Blues Albums (ARIA) 1 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) 98Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) 11Canadian Jazz Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) 1 French Albums (SNEP) 81 US Billboard 200 91 US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard) 1

Chart (2003) Position Australian Jazz & Blues Albums (ARIA) 6 US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard) 3

Chart (2004) Position Australian Jazz & Blues Albums (ARIA) 20

Chart (2006) Position Australian Jazz & Blues Albums (ARIA) 15

Chart (2007) Position Australian Jazz & Blues Albums (ARIA) 13

Decade-end charts Chart (2000–2009) Position US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard) 5

Certifications

Notes

References