Twincities.com : Diana Krall struts distinctive bebop
Posted: 12 Aug 2004, 10:29Posted on Thu, Aug. 12, 2004
Diana Krall struts distinctive bebop
BY ROB HUBBARD
Pioneer Press
Diana Krall felt at home on Wednesday night, and it showed.
"I'm from British Columbia, and this kind of weather inspires me," she said.
But Krall seemed at home at Northrop Auditorium in more than one respect. After a couple of studio albums of string-laden pop standards that didn't play to her strengths — but put her on top of the pop charts — Krall is back playing her first love, bebop-flavored jazz, in the company of a quartet.
"I'm in my element," she said on Wednesday, and judging from her passionate performance, few among the more than 3,300 in attendance could doubt it.
Casting aside the gowns, pumps and posturing of a model that graced the album art on "The Look of Love," Krall performed in jeans and a big-sleeved blouse. But she's cast off other burdens from that album, like sleepy arrangements and leaden tempos. On this night, Krall was far more interested in the jazz that inspired her and filled all of her albums before her label tried to transform her into a come-hither chanteuse.
Krall spent the evening delving into the exhilaration and abandon that small-group jazz can offer, concentrating on her role as pianist above all else, but nonetheless showing off her chops as a singer, as well.
And make no mistake: Krall is a jazz singer. She served notice throughout the concert that playing the standards straight was not her cup of java. Her delivery is always a little this side of the beat or that, be she rapidly flying through "Devil May Care" or sliding in and out of rhythm on "I Don't Know Enough About You."
But some of the best moments came when she found the jazz within more contemporary fare like Mose Allison's swampy blues, "Stop This World," or one of the show's standouts, a cover of Tom Waits' "Temptation" far more faithful to Waits' eccentric spirit than you'd expect from a chart topper, right down to a vocal sung through cupped hands and a solo on which Krall manipulated the strings inside the piano.
As the evening went on, Krall seemed increasingly comfortable, skittering across the ivories and trading fours with the rest of the first-rate foursome. Each member of the group shone throughout, but guitarist Anthony Wilson was a consistent standout from the time he established the modern flavor of the night with tasteful dissonances on the instrumental opener.
Above all, Wednesday's concert reminded one of the largest crowds to see a jazz show in the Twin Cities in quite some time that this is music full of energy and excitement. And Krall proved an ideal ambassador for the genre.
Source: St Paul Pioneer Press
Diana Krall struts distinctive bebop
BY ROB HUBBARD
Pioneer Press
Diana Krall felt at home on Wednesday night, and it showed.
"I'm from British Columbia, and this kind of weather inspires me," she said.
But Krall seemed at home at Northrop Auditorium in more than one respect. After a couple of studio albums of string-laden pop standards that didn't play to her strengths — but put her on top of the pop charts — Krall is back playing her first love, bebop-flavored jazz, in the company of a quartet.
"I'm in my element," she said on Wednesday, and judging from her passionate performance, few among the more than 3,300 in attendance could doubt it.
Casting aside the gowns, pumps and posturing of a model that graced the album art on "The Look of Love," Krall performed in jeans and a big-sleeved blouse. But she's cast off other burdens from that album, like sleepy arrangements and leaden tempos. On this night, Krall was far more interested in the jazz that inspired her and filled all of her albums before her label tried to transform her into a come-hither chanteuse.
Krall spent the evening delving into the exhilaration and abandon that small-group jazz can offer, concentrating on her role as pianist above all else, but nonetheless showing off her chops as a singer, as well.
And make no mistake: Krall is a jazz singer. She served notice throughout the concert that playing the standards straight was not her cup of java. Her delivery is always a little this side of the beat or that, be she rapidly flying through "Devil May Care" or sliding in and out of rhythm on "I Don't Know Enough About You."
But some of the best moments came when she found the jazz within more contemporary fare like Mose Allison's swampy blues, "Stop This World," or one of the show's standouts, a cover of Tom Waits' "Temptation" far more faithful to Waits' eccentric spirit than you'd expect from a chart topper, right down to a vocal sung through cupped hands and a solo on which Krall manipulated the strings inside the piano.
As the evening went on, Krall seemed increasingly comfortable, skittering across the ivories and trading fours with the rest of the first-rate foursome. Each member of the group shone throughout, but guitarist Anthony Wilson was a consistent standout from the time he established the modern flavor of the night with tasteful dissonances on the instrumental opener.
Above all, Wednesday's concert reminded one of the largest crowds to see a jazz show in the Twin Cities in quite some time that this is music full of energy and excitement. And Krall proved an ideal ambassador for the genre.
Source: St Paul Pioneer Press