This recording of Nat King Cole's "I'm an Errand Girl for Rhythm" opens Diana Krall's 1995 album All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio. The Cole original is performed at a brisk swing tempo of approximately 261 BPM in the key of C major, using a 32-bar AABA form built on the chord changes of "I Got Rhythm." Guitarist Russell Malone takes the first solo with one chorus, his electric guitar tone warm and rounded in the style that characterized the original Cole trio recordings. Krall follows with her own piano chorus at a slightly faster 264 BPM, demonstrating the swinging, economical style that would become her hallmark. The rhythm changes provide a familiar harmonic framework that both soloists navigate with ease, their playing conversational and buoyant. The brisk tempo demands fleet technique, and both Malone and Krall deliver with effortless swing. This opening track sets the tone for the entire album, establishing the intimate trio format and the deep reverence for Cole's musical legacy that pervades every performance. Krall's decision to open with this up-tempo swinger immediately signals that her tribute goes beyond the ballad interpretations for which Cole is sometimes best remembered, celebrating the full range of his artistry.
