Michael Broadbent

Romantic inspiration can be found in many places, but song stylist Michael Feinstein finds his in motion picture film scores and Broadway musicals on his third Concord Jazz release. Romance on Film/Romance on Broadway is a two-CD set filled with great romantic ballads such as "The More I See You," "The Second Time Around," "All the Way," and the enduring classic "When I Fall in Love." Feinstein's voice is alluring, sophisticated, and comfortable on this excellent collection of popular music that he interprets in so many heartfelt ways.

Pianist/vocalist Michael Feinstein turns his longstanding love of the Great American Songbook tradition toward the holiday season with his 2014 effort A Michael Feinstein Christmas. Featuring a handful of seasonal classics, many of which were written by such legendary composers as George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, and Meredith Wilson, A Michael Feinstein Christmas is a warm, intimate affair perfect for long winter evenings. Included are such songs as "There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays," "White Christmas," "Winter Wonderland," I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm," and many more.

Recorded at the historic Olympia Theatre in Paris in November 2001, this is Diana Krall's first live album. Backed by her quicksilver combo of bassist John Clayton, drummer Jeff Hamilton, and guitarist Anthony Wilson, Krall's jazz heritage comes through loud and clear on this program of standards, ballads, and bossa novas. Her cool contralto vocals are illuminated by the Orchestre Symphonique Europeen, under the direction of Alan Broadbent, as well as the London Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Claus Ogerman. Krall's deep take on Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You" is a great choice for an encore, and the album concludes with Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are" (a studio track from a film called The Guru), with tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker and bassist Christian McBride. This collection only hints at what Diana Krall has to offer in the future.