Wolf Trap, Jul 16

[Bud]

I'm hoping for a local indoor venue too, but this will do!

http://www.wolf-trap.org/performances/quicksheet07.html

[Bud]

Snagged my tickets! Took a few tries because of high volume - Wolf Trap tickets for the season went on sale at 10 a.m. EDT on 31 March.

http://www.wolf-trap.org/performances/show071607.html

Best available was Rear Orchestra Section:
http://www.wolf-trap.org/performances/s ... rorch.html

[Bud]

Here's the Washington Post writeup. I'll put something together soon on my own:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 02013.html

Diana Krall

"Where's Elvis?" shouted a fan to singer and pianist Diana Krall at Wolf Trap. Hopes that Elvis Costello, Krall's husband, might turn up for the sold-out concert Monday night soon vanished (perhaps he was busy with the couple's newborn twins). But Krall was in awfully good company just the same, supported by three supremely gifted musicians and inspired by the likes of Irving Berlin, Peggy Lee, Bob Dorough, Joni Mitchell and Nat King Cole.

The influence of Cole's small-combo recordings has always been evident. Krall has developed a wonderfully relaxed rapport with guitarist Anthony Wilson, bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton, and she provides each with plenty of space to shine. More important, she held her own while performing pieces that required a demanding yet seemingly effortless level of interplay. She brightly harmonized several melodies with Wilson and nimbly interacted with Clayton and Hamilton, who's a wizard with brushes.

Never one to conceal her piano influences, Krall wears them more lightly these days. Lacking a horn section, the Canadian-born artist wasn't able to duplicate the brassy luster and swagger that distinguishes her latest CD, "From This Moment On." But the cozy setting proved ideal for romantic ballads. Her hazy alto cast a quiet spell during a solo recital of Mitchell's "A Case of You" and the show's whisper-soft encore of "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" sounded as if it were arranged for Shirley Horn. Mostly, though, Krall looked to -- and found -- inspiration in a delightful collection of vintage pop and jazz standards.

-- Mike Joyce

[Bud]

As you might know, this outdoor venue's full name is Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. Monday night brought a threat of severe thunderstorms - not unusual for this time of year - but thankfully the night turned out to be really pleasant. Made my way to the souvenier stand, and got my white tour T-sheet, but they had no mugs as I mentioned in another post. I ran into a few people from work sitting on the grass who I didn't know were going to be there (more on that later) on our way to our seats.

Chris Botti opened, and it was the same set he played in Providence. Enjoyed it alot, but it was a repeat performance.

As the preceding article said, early in the show someone yelled "Where's Elvis?" Her comeback was "Don't make' me cry" which came across just right. As for the performance, she and the quartet were on that night. Maybe it was the general looseness of the atmosphere, especially compared to the Providence Performing Arts Center. The presence and power that comes out of her when you watch her play live is not something you can feel from a recording.

I didn't hook up with Diana this time, but I imagine it would have been next to impossible given the size of the crowd.

As for the people from work - I was horrified to learn the next day when I emailed them that one had left after Chris Botti, and the other left sometime during Diana's performance. I guess they were there just to have good time, not really to see Diana. Of course, I made sure they knew they missed a stunning encore of HCYMABH?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Can_Yo ... n_Heart%3F

OK, I do have one nit - I would have liked to hear more than two songs from FTMO, especially when its billed as the FTMO tour. But that's the only nit - I'm trying to figure out if there's a way I can get in one more concert somewhere this summer!

[mapache61]

Thanks for the review, Bud. And please, invite your co-workers to the board so we can berate them.

Good luck with that bonus gig.

[johnfoyle]

As the preceding article said, early in the show someone yelled "Where's Elvis?" Her comeback was "Don't make' me cry"

On July 16 Elvis was traveling between shows in Denmark and Belgium ; tonight (July 21) he's playing in Finland. Considering all that distance, Diana's comeback may have been a joke rather tempered by more than a little loneliness.

I saw Elvis , in concert with Allen Toussaint and his band, in Liverpool and London at the start of July. The Liverpool show was a benefit for and in the tiny Picket venue. Elvis was in great voice, getting us to , towards the end, sing happy birthday to a certain audience member , his 80 year old mum. A few days later in London , in a disappointingly under attended show at The Tower of London , his voice was rather shot but Allen and all his brass players kicked up quite a racket.