Manchester review

[scielle]

Diana Krall @ Manchester

Steve Millward

TWO-HOUR SHOW: Diana Krall
02/11/04

FOR the cardinal sin of making jazz accessible, Diana Krall has suffered her fair share of sniping from the critics.

To make matters worse, she has dared to integrate into her repertoire compositions by the likes of fellow Canadian Joni Mitchell and husband, Elvis Costello.

But, judging by her massive record sales and sold-out shows, the general public doesn't seem to mind. Perhaps she does lack the profundity of Billie Holiday or a Sarah Vaughan, but she compensates by focusing consistently on quality, in both material and musicianship.

So, it was no surprise that this two-hour performance was just about perfect in terms of pace, balance and delivery.

Krall's trio comprises three of the best musicians in the business.

Guitarist Anthony Wilson, constantly in demand for session work, proved his versatility with a series of scintillating solos, none better than on East Of The Sun, which also featured Robert Hurst's rapid-fire but melodic bass playing.

Peter Erskine

Veteran drummer Peter Erskine was characteristically subtle and propulsive throughout.

But, naturally, all eyes were on Krall herself. She made up for her rather limited vocal range by cleverly varying her phrasing, a technique that worked to particular advantage in All Or Nothing At All. And her piano work was resonant and articulate with delightful touches of stride, blues and boogie.

Her main problem was that most of her songs have been done better by other people.

Her account of Temptation, for example, fell far short of Tom Waits' menacing original, while Stop This World missed Mose Allison's mordant wit.

Yet her unaccompanied versions of S'Wonderful and On The Sunny Side Of The Street were little gems of relaxation and swing, confirming that maybe, after all, playing pure jazz is what she does best.

[Cheli]

Hi

This is my first post here but I've been visiting for a while so hello everyone!

I went to the Manchester concert yesterday (after months and months of waiting) and just thought that you'd like to know that she was absolutely incredible. The review above certainly doesn't do her justice. For me, her voice had never sounded better and I defintely don't agree that the songs she did have been done better by others.

It was my first Diana Krall concert and I honestly don't think it could've been any better. Of course, this may have been helped by the fact that I was about 20 yards from the stage with a perfect, dead centre view. And also by the fact that I stood next to Elvis Costello. (Still on a really big high!)

So if anyone has been debating whether or not to go to one of the concerts, I promise you it's worth it.

Alex

[Rémi]

Hello and welcome Alex.

Glad to hear you had a good time during that concert.

That review is far from being the best I have read. I have to disagree (and to agree with you) on her renditions of originals.
I have listened to the version of Temptation by Tom Waits, and for God's sake, Diana's version is 1000th better!
Not that I don't like Tom Waits (although it sounds really... weird), but Diana's approach is more constructive, more sophisticated. And it's the same for all the standards Diana plays: Stop This World, Let's Face The Music and Dance, S'Wonderful, etc.

The author may not like her versions, but he can't say that those songs have been better played by other artists. He forgot Diana is a brilliant arranger. In my opinion, I sincerely prefer her versions to the originals.

[JUSTADKFAN]

Hi guys:

I have also compared some other artists versions of Diana's songs. For example from GITOR I really like " Love like a Man"; she sounds soooo sexy in this song. I can listen it several times without boring. Bonnie Raitt version is excellent but I prefer Diana's pretty much.

I have never heard a better version of BOBD than Diana's. I've got you under my skin, let's fall in love, etc, etc. all of them are very good arranged and wonderfully interpreted by Diana. I have heard all of them in several singers, but again, Diana's are the best.

Regards

Armando

[DKJAZZDIVA]

AMEN AMEN AMEN regarding Remi comments...again DK is a singer for our times...intepreting those originals for our times... we love that it does not sound like the original artists, thats what makes her interpretation great..its her own style, and those arrangements are brilliant...she makes those classics live on and I cannot wait for more in the future... ANAE