Paul McCartney finally returned to the traditional pop and jazz of his youth 10 years ago this week. In more ways than one, I’m glad that he waited.

Released a decade ago today, Diana Krall’s ‘Quiet Nights’ succeeds as easy listening – in the best sense of those words.

Diana Krall is better than these arrangements, better than this album, better than she’s too-often presented — even though those records sell the most.

Diana Krall’s new take on “California Dreamin'” gives the Mamas and the Papas hit a much-needed makeover.

For John Clayton, the gig was a complete mystery. He knew that Diana Krall would be on piano, but not who the singer would be. “They wouldn’t say who it was,” the Grammy-winning jazz bassist reveals. Because it was Paul McCartney. You May Also Like: How Dave Grohl Surprised EverybodyRead More

In one way or another, each of these recordings confounded and delighted me. Pushed me to new vistas, either in the way I approached the artist, their own original work, or the tunes they covered. Made me think, and feel differently. You May Also Like: Robert Cray – Robert CrayRead More

This isn’t a ring-a-ding thing, a Rat Pack thing, a Sands hotel thing. And that’s a very good thing. What you’re struck by, as Paul McCartney cuts a quietly emotional figure on this live companion to his standards set Kisses on the Bottom is how un-dashing he is, how un-Sinatra.Read More