Blic interview
Posted: 18 Nov 2009, 22:07http://www.blic.rs/culture.php?id=5512
After the concert in Zagreb, Diana Krall, the great star of the world jazz music, gave an exclusive interview before her performances in Skopje and Belgrade. “Blic” reveals part of this interview. Diana’s life story can also be read in the latest edition of NIN which is for sale starting from tomorrow.
Tired, but still in good mood, accompanied by her manager and stylist, Diana enters a small room. She has changed her black dress to an elegant dress of bright colors. The European part of her sold out tour, which lasts eight months, is in the final phase. Until Christmas and New Year pause, she will perform in Italy, Hungary, Macedonia, Serbia, Romania, Poland, Czech Republic and Russia. She still hears echoing applause of the audience in Zagreb.
-It was unexpectedly wonderful. What are your impressions?
On the level as concerts of the great jazz stars whom I remember from my youth: Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRea, etc. That is the same class.
-My father would be happy if he could hear you today. He used to play the piano and collected records of the great jazz musicians. I was raised with music of the great pianists and singers.
Your family on your father’s side originates from Central Europe.
-Yes, from eastern Slovakia. I think the place is called Horka.
Have you ever been there?
-Never. My great-grandfather was born there.
How did the Kralls reach western Canada and the island opposite Vancouver?
-They started going west. My grandfather crossed the Atlantic and reached the Pacific. My father chose Vancouver Island for the place to live and that is where I was born, in Nanaimo.
Your tonight’s concert in Zagreb is your first performance in the region, “east from the sun and west from the moon”, if I may quote your song. What are your impressions?
-This is the audience that musicians dream of. Young, old, mixed, but well-educated. Not the audience composed of one generation, but educated devotees who know well what jazz is. It is pleasure to perform for such an audience.
This big tour brings you to Southeastern Europe for the first time.
-I was here in 1998 when I played at the Split Jazz Festival. It was before I signed a contract with “Verve”.
But this is your first visit to Zagreb, which has a long jazz tradition, Belgrade where there used to be the prestigious Newport-Belgrade jazz festival. You are also going to Skopje which is an important city of jazz, especially since the 1980s.
“I know that jazz has a long and nice history in this part of Europe. Great interest for jazz is a political and cultural phenomenon which provoked a great interest in the west.
Your concert programs are usually very different. What does it depend on?
-It depends on how I feel. I haven’t played the song “Black Crow” by Johnny Michel for a long time and I had a desire to sing it tonight, but then I completely forgot it. Fortunately Bob (the bassist) saved the situation. We change our repertoire every evening. I sing the way I feel. I think that is better for a musician to choose songs spontaneously and play exactly what he feels in a certain moment.
Do you know music or any musician from here?
-No.
Pogorelic?!
-Oh, yes, yes, for sure.
What is your message for the audience before your first concert in Belgrade?
-I am extremely happy because of my visit to Belgrade and because the audience will be able to hear that wonderful musicians I play with.
After the concert in Zagreb, Diana Krall, the great star of the world jazz music, gave an exclusive interview before her performances in Skopje and Belgrade. “Blic” reveals part of this interview. Diana’s life story can also be read in the latest edition of NIN which is for sale starting from tomorrow.
Tired, but still in good mood, accompanied by her manager and stylist, Diana enters a small room. She has changed her black dress to an elegant dress of bright colors. The European part of her sold out tour, which lasts eight months, is in the final phase. Until Christmas and New Year pause, she will perform in Italy, Hungary, Macedonia, Serbia, Romania, Poland, Czech Republic and Russia. She still hears echoing applause of the audience in Zagreb.
-It was unexpectedly wonderful. What are your impressions?
On the level as concerts of the great jazz stars whom I remember from my youth: Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRea, etc. That is the same class.
-My father would be happy if he could hear you today. He used to play the piano and collected records of the great jazz musicians. I was raised with music of the great pianists and singers.
Your family on your father’s side originates from Central Europe.
-Yes, from eastern Slovakia. I think the place is called Horka.
Have you ever been there?
-Never. My great-grandfather was born there.
How did the Kralls reach western Canada and the island opposite Vancouver?
-They started going west. My grandfather crossed the Atlantic and reached the Pacific. My father chose Vancouver Island for the place to live and that is where I was born, in Nanaimo.
Your tonight’s concert in Zagreb is your first performance in the region, “east from the sun and west from the moon”, if I may quote your song. What are your impressions?
-This is the audience that musicians dream of. Young, old, mixed, but well-educated. Not the audience composed of one generation, but educated devotees who know well what jazz is. It is pleasure to perform for such an audience.
This big tour brings you to Southeastern Europe for the first time.
-I was here in 1998 when I played at the Split Jazz Festival. It was before I signed a contract with “Verve”.
But this is your first visit to Zagreb, which has a long jazz tradition, Belgrade where there used to be the prestigious Newport-Belgrade jazz festival. You are also going to Skopje which is an important city of jazz, especially since the 1980s.
“I know that jazz has a long and nice history in this part of Europe. Great interest for jazz is a political and cultural phenomenon which provoked a great interest in the west.
Your concert programs are usually very different. What does it depend on?
-It depends on how I feel. I haven’t played the song “Black Crow” by Johnny Michel for a long time and I had a desire to sing it tonight, but then I completely forgot it. Fortunately Bob (the bassist) saved the situation. We change our repertoire every evening. I sing the way I feel. I think that is better for a musician to choose songs spontaneously and play exactly what he feels in a certain moment.
Do you know music or any musician from here?
-No.
Pogorelic?!
-Oh, yes, yes, for sure.
What is your message for the audience before your first concert in Belgrade?
-I am extremely happy because of my visit to Belgrade and because the audience will be able to hear that wonderful musicians I play with.