Diana Krall live in Baltimore tonight!

Diana Krall performs tonight, June 16, at 7:30PM, at the beautiful Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore, MD, promoting her recent releases "Quiet Nights" (Verve) and "Live in Rio" (Eagle/ST2), both magnificently arranged by Claus Ogerman.
To purchase tickets:

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/15004252CDED6039?artistid=773409&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=4

Reviews from DK's previous concert, last Saturday, at the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston:

Krall Invites Her Live Audience to Get Closer
by James Reed
Boston Globe, June 15, 2009

Sixteen years since her debut, Diana Krall has become a jazz chanteuse who, despite the husky warmth of her vocals, is often rather aloof on her recordings. She has nurtured a beguiling persona: You can look and listen and admire her from afar, but there's no touching. Half of her allure is the essence of what she does.

Krall breaks down some of that wall in a live setting, though, and Saturday night at the Bank of America Pavilion, with a breeze wafting over her and gray skies looming, Krall was as grounded and engaging as she gets.

She was feisty, even. Joking about her husband, British rocker Elvis Costello, she mentioned her next song was inspired by him. "Don't worry," she said, "I'm not going to play 'Pump It Up' as a bossa nova or anything." But then she did just that, for only a few seconds but long enough to imbue the show with welcome flashes of humor.

Later she talked about the first time she met the Obamas. Krall was effusive and emotional in her feelings for them, but she made the president seem more impressed with something else: "Your husband is Elvis Costello? Have you been keeping this under wraps?"

Krall gets a lot of attention for her voice -- a sublime instrument that doesn't so much lead songs as it bleeds flawlessly into the arrangements -- but her piano playing was as much of an attraction. Opening with Peggy Lee's "I Love Being Here With You," Krall swung right into the song, deftly keeping pace with the torrent of lyrics while her hands followed suit on the keys.

With a full orchestra behind Krall and her crack ensemble, which included guitarist Anthony Wilson, upright bassist Robert Hurst, and drummer Jeff Hamilton, nostalgia hung heavy in the air. Couples swooned to standards from a bygone era, arms wrapped around shoulders as Krall waxed romantic on "Do It Again" and "The Look of Love."

Krall was in an especially sentimental mood on "I've Grown Accustomed to His Face," "Walk on By," and "Quiet Nights," all from her new album of bossa novas. But a more contemporary song allowed her to dig deep into psychological anguish. A cover of fellow Canadian Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You" was an unvarnished gem of economy and grace, with Krall's voice evaporating into full-throated exhales.

From Buenos Aires, Federico Aubele and Natalia Clavier opened with threadbare love songs ranging from tangos to boleros. Fleshed out with just Aubele's acoustic guitar and Clavier on the occasional melodica solo, their set was as cool and crisp as Aubele's white suit.
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Krall Hits All Right Notes
by Bob Young
Boston Herald, June 15, 2009

Those days when Diana Krall had a steady hotel gig in Boston while a student at Berklee College of Music seemed a distant memory as the singer-pianist strolled onto the Bank of America Pavilion stage in her black dress and bright red high heels Saturday night.

Krall, one of the handful of jazz stars who've crossed over to a wider public, received an adoring ovation from the crowd before breaking into a hard swinging rendition of "I Love Being Here With You." Despite fighting a cold, it was a sentiment she made crystal clear all night.

Backed by a full orchestra and sharp accompaniment from bassist Robert Hurst, guitarist Anthony Wilson and drummer Jeff Hamilton, Krall spent the next hour-and-a-half showcasing how far she'd come as an artist since she first appeared at the Pavilion as an opener for Tony Bennett nine years ago.

Exhibiting an understated emotional depth that charged her vocals, Krall comfortably took the crowd through a full range of styles, from Nat King Cole interpretations to Brazilian ballads to a gorgeous solo cover of Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You."

Between songs, she acted more at ease than ever, with stories as entertaining and charming as they were goofy and self-deprecating. She recounted what it's like to sing "Wheels on the Bus" with her 2-year-old twins on the tour bus, and then recalled how President Obama told her recently how cool he thinks it is that she's married to Elvis Costello.

Her new album, "Quiet Nights," provided some of the most compelling material for her set. "I've Grown Accustomed to His Face," which Krall dedicated to Costello, was sweet, powerful and endearing.

Putting her dusky contralto to its best use, she transported the audience to Rio with a striking version of Jobim's "Quiet Nights." And her solid piano playing, more than once dipping into the blues, provided a hip edge to Burt Bacharach's "Walk on By."