Award wining artist, Diana Krall brought her Wallflower World Tour to SoCal last night to the delight of a packed house at Humphreys. On a cool crisp evening Diana seemed to have the crowd mesmerized as she and the band pumped out some of the fans favorites. Although this particular stop didn’t include the “Orchestra Show” that will be featured in LA, those in attendance seemed quite content just to hear her sultry and contralto voice resonate through the audience and out into the bay. Her vocals have the unusual range that most singers would love to have but few do. The style of her music is a nice fusion of Jazz, Pop, Bossa Nova with Operatic overtones. The band members are a solid group of versatile musicians.
Originally hailing from British Columbia Diana is the Only Jazz artist to have eight albums debuting at the top of Billboard Jazz Albums. Her father, who played piano, had her banging on the keys at the ripe old age of four and by 15 she was playing Jazz at local eateries. In 2000 she was awarded the Order of British Columbia and can always be found behind a Steinway piano having been selected as a Steinway & Sons Artist. (Complete with what may have been a small Elvis memento) Having been nominated for 13 Grammy Awards, she has won 2 for her work on When I look in Your Eyes, (Best Jazz Vocal Performance) and Live In Paris. (Best Jazz Vocal Album)
Her newest release entitled Wallflower was produced by David Foster and is her recreation of some older classic hits such as: California Dreaming, (Mamas & Papas) Desperado, (The Eagles) Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, (Elton John) Superstar, (The Carpenters) Alone Again, (Gilbert O’Sullivan) If I Take You Home Tonight, (Paul McCartney) Operator, (Jim Croce) and Feels Like Home, (Linda Ronstadt) that she recorded with Bryan Adams. The album which was released earlier this year has something for every music aficionado.
So haw far is that drive to LA?