Wisconsin State Journal: Different turn for Krall

[Bud]

Source: http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/feature ... 48&ntpid=2
Review: Different turn for Krall

Kate O'Neill Wisconsin State Journal
August 11, 2004
MILWAUKEE - Diana Krall began her set Tuesday night at the Milwaukee Theater with a lengthy instrumental number, tentatively titled "Sometimes I Just Freak Out." The tune included several solos for her able bandmates, signaling that her show would not revolve around the standards that first made her famous, nor did she care to be the frontwoman.

Though she's gained attention for her seductive album cover photos, on stage Krall is shy to the point of being standoffish. Her most expressive gesture was the frantic tapping of her stilettos, and she didn't look to the audience until the third song, "Stop This World." Her almost contemptuous glance was oddly timed to the words "there's too many pigs at the trough."

Krall loosened up as the set progressed, and though at times she seemed hesitant to showcase that famous voice of hers, she did give the audience a minor revelation: Her skill at the piano is superb as well. Krall's one solo performance (aside from her encore), "But Nor for Me," was perfectly, sometimes even dissonantly, punctuated.

Krall looked to her band for support with surprising frequency, but it's hard to blame her. Anthony Wilson on guitar, Peter Erskine on drums and Robert Hurst provided brilliant backing, and the foursome clearly enjoyed their fluent interplay.

From her new album, Krall performed two songs she co-wrote with her new husband, Elvis Costello, and covers of pieces by Tom Waits and Joni Mitchell (which she clearly relished), along with several standards for fans of her previous albums. Although the audience seemed to snicker at the suggestion that "The Girl in the Other Room," the title track off her new album, was film noir-inspired, the newer cuts lent depth and variety to her set. Without them, Krall might not have been able to rise above her Pottery Barn soundtrack label of retro kitsch.

"Peel Me a Grape," Krall's only recording of mainstream notoriety, has been dropped from the set list, and fans expecting to see her perform yet another skillfully executed Gershwin review were probably disappointed.

But while Krall may have tried to blend with her band at times, she made it clear she's running the show. Whether fans decide to come along for the ride seems to matter little to her. But judging from Tuesday night's crowd, few are about to jump ship quite yet.

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[johnfoyle]

How puzzling ; this account says she did do DK/EC songs but this one -

http://www.jazzprincess.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=169

says she did not. I guess we'll have to wait for a fan account to see which one is correct.