Given the murky Monday muck outside, we thought we’d slow it down a bit to match.  Diana Krall appeared the other night on Later with Jools Holland, and gave a good feel for the depth and spectrum of her talents. Mrs. Costello has been one of our more popular and capable interpreters of jazz standards for close to two decades now.  On her latest album, Good Rag Doll, Krall has delved deeper into the jazz-pop standards history, choosing to cover songs from her father’s favorites from the 30s-40s.  But she’s also included a contemporary Americana masterpiece or two too.

To give a feel for the span of the new album, first check out Krall singing a captivating read of Julie Miller’s folk-gospel gem, Wide River to Cross.  Then check out Krall’s sweetly-slow reading of Harry Woods’  We Just Couldn’t Say Goodbye, a jazz-pop standard which has been covered by everyone from Maxine Sullivan, to Dionne Warwick, to Lena Horne.  We first enjoyed this song on Maria Muldaur’s 1976 album, Sweet Harmony, but in a decidedly more upbeat tempo.  Watch Krall and cohorts slow it down below.  And then after, in an attempt to shift into the reckless working week, check out Krall and crew’s shift into uptempo delivery of There Ain’t No Sweet Man That’s Worth The Salt of My Tears.  That’ll get ya goin’.