Diana's Gig in Malaysia

[Bud]

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?fi ... sec=nation

F1 items to be auctioned off

KUALA LUMPUR: If you think owning a Ferrari car is rare, try being the proud owner of last year's race-winning Ferrari V10 Formula One engine that brought the scarlet team to success.

To have such an item is a privilege and a dream come true for most Formula One fans, especially for loyal Ferrari followers, commonly referred to as tifosis.

The 2004 V10 engine is among the highlights of a charity auction where guests are invited to bid for unique items and memorabilia during the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix Ice Gala on March 17, a day before the start of the Malaysian round in Sepang.

Apart from that, seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher and his Ferrari teammate, Rubens Barrichello, are donating the racing suits they wore in the 2003 season.

Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir with Michael Schumacher's 2004 race suit, which will be auctioned off for charity, along with other memorabilia donated by Rubens Barrichello, Jarno Trulli and other F1 stars.
Fans of other Formula One teams also have the opportunity to bid for Australian Mark Webber's racing gloves, former McLaren Mercedes driver David Coulthard's racing suit, Jarno Truli’s Renault F1 suit and also the suit of former Malaysian Formula One driver Alex Yoong.

Besides Formula One memorabilia, other items going under the auctioneer’s hammer at the event include jewellery and fine watches from Audemars Piquet.

All the proceeds from the auction will go to the Red Cresent Society in aid of the tsunami victims.

Scheduled to attend the spectacular high-profile event are the King and Queen, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his Cabinet members, celebrities, captains of industry, Formula One drivers, team principals and officials from Formula One Management.

Malaysian actress Datuk Michelle Yeoh will also attend the Gala and Grammy Award winning jazz diva Diana Krall will be the performing artist.

Most of the tables for the gala dinner, ranging from RM25,000 to RM200,000, have been sold out. However, there are 10 Diamond tables going at RM50,000 each and five Platinum at RM35,000 each still available. To secure the tables, those interested can log on to www.malaysiangp.com or fax to 03-5513 5529 get a table.

[scielle]

Here's a review from Malaysia's New Straits Times:

Diana Krall’s performance at the recent Petronas Grand Prix Ice Gala resonated with spontaneous energy. ANITA ANANDARAJAH writes.

THE Diana Krall who performed on stage at the Petronas Grand Prix Ice Gala last Thursday night may as well have been a newcomer because no one knew what she was performing.

The jazz singer Malaysians fell in love with four years ago is famous here for her intimate interpretations of classic tunes like The Look of Love, S’Wonderful and Cry Me A River from The Look of Love album (2001).

Of the seven songs she performed in the 40-minute set, only three were familiar to most of the audience — and these were tributes to Nat King Cole’s Straighten Up and Fly Right, Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good To You and You Call It Madness.

After a glowing introduction by fellow British Columbian and CNN’s Talk Asia host Lorraine Hahn, Krall walked onstage in a dark pant suit before plunging into Love Being Here With You, a fast contemporary number from her Only Trust Your Heart album (1995).

Whether it was the late hour (she came on at 11pm) or the unfamiliar music, about a third of the 700 guests that night started making their way out of the ballroom.

They should have stayed though, for they would have witnessed an interesting transition from cover-artiste to songwriter for Krall now pens her own music together with husband Elvis Costello, beginning with her latest album, The Girl In The Other Room (2004).

The performance was filled with spontaneous energy, and a raw edge permeated her voice, making her sound almost like a growling rocker at times.

But it was the fifth number, You Call It Madness, that set her new image (to us anyway) in stone. Bathed in bluish hues, she looked like she was performing in a cosy jazz club in New Orleans.

Although her showmanship is somewhat lacking, demonstrated in her lack interaction with the audience (a quick hello was it before her first number), it is her musicianship that sets her apart from her contemporaries.

In Your Mind Is On Vacation, Krall took to the ivories so fervently she was literally banging on them whilst stomping her left foot, inciting The Last Samurai’s Ken Watanabe who was sitting up front to stick his fingers in his mouth and let out a loud wolf whistle. Watanabe clearly enjoyed the show as his head bobbed up and down enthusiastically while tapping his hands on the dinner table throughout Krall’s performance.

She wound down the energetic evening with Narrow Daylight a number about hope which she co-wrote with Costello. The mellow number made a perfect ending to a magical night where barren trees glittered with silver snowflakes, icicles and silver disco globes and where celebrities like the enigmatic Sir Jackie “In my time, racing was dangerous and sex was safe” Stewart and Carmen Electra shone brighter than the diamonds and sequins that dripped off elegantly coiffed women.

Krall was accompanied by Anthony Wilson on guitar, Peter Erskine on drums, and Robert Hurst on bass.

Your Mind Is On Vacation Great tune, hope she keeps doing it. The more Mose, the better!

[Eric in Long Beach]

Granted I've been out of the loop for a while, but who's Robert Hurst?

[Rémi]

Granted I've been out of the loop for a while, but who's Robert Hurst?

The new bassist. You have a link to his website on the musicians page.