It was wonderful to see Diana with the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra..... The Orchestra did a couple great songs on their own and then Diana came onstage. I can't keep a set listing going during the show because I am just into the music and the feel of the place, but since she had the orchestra, I do remember her doing 'Isn't it a Lovely day', "How insensitive', & 'Willow Weep for Me' from the new CD. I remember 'Let's face the Music & Dance' and 'East of the Sun' & ' I Don't Know Enought About You' when she was playing with Jeff, Anthony & John. She stood and sang several with the orchestra, saying it was her frst time at standing at the mic and being the 'girl singer'.... and then over to the piano to sit down and do a few more, then John & Jeff came over to the piano area and she did a few with just the trio. Once, she started a song standing up and said she got caught up in the swing of it and had to sit down and join in !
She talked about being a new mother and how she was maybe a bit more 'voluptuous' than the past due to just having twins !.... she said she was a bit concerned that she didn't want the first song her children sang at pre-school to be '10 cents a Dance', so she had been singing kids songs to the new twins and she did say she was going to be working on a CD of childrens music. She seemed to be having a great time being 'in the town of Sinatra and Nat King Cole'. I did notice that the Saturday show was being filmed, so maybe a DVD is in the works. While I was walking thru the casino on Friday I saw her walking by and later that night she said she tried to go over to the 'Star Trek Experence' there at the Hilton, but the line was just too long...
Our seats for Friday were on the CHJO side of the stage and we couldn't see Diana's hands on the piano, but Saturday we were on the other side and could watch her paly and had a much better view when she was singin with Anthony, Jeff, and John.
I was lucky enough to have backstage passes for Friday night, so after the show my cousin and I followed Michelle & Elvis down under the stage to a nice room they had set up for guests. We had a glass of wine and met another couple there from Vancouver who had won a charity bid to benefit the VBH & UBC Foundation on a package trip which included tickets and the backstage 'meet & greet'. There were quite a few people there and when Diana came in it took quite a while for her to make it over to where my cousin and I were. We didn't get to talk long, just a pretty quick hello and some introductions, but it was fun to see her again. I did get to say hi to Anthony Wilson, I don't remember seeing Jeff backstage, but several of the CHJO were around. Elvis came in for a while but I didn't get a chance to talk..... I did get an opportunity to talk a bit with Michelle. My cousin and I had arranged to meet some friends later in the evening and Diana was very busy with friends, so we called it a night and went back upstairs.
The two shows were similar, but not all the same - and with Diana the same song done twice is a bit different each time anyway. It was a wonderful weekend of great music. I can't wait until August when Anthony, Jeff, John and Diana come to Eugene so I can see them again !!
Oh yeah - the 'extra surprise'..... while wondering thru the shops located under the Planet Hollywood Hotel (formally the Aladdin), I came across a wonderful place called "The Art of Music" which had movie posters, records, guitars, and other 'celebrity & rock and roll memorbillia', mostly all signed by the artist. One particular piece caught my eye and after mulling it over I decided I had to get it. A beautifully framed guitar signed by Roy Orbison. It is being shipped to me - should have it here in about a week ! I am very excited !!!........
Should have told her we miss her!
