By JESSICA NEU
Heinz Hall’s iconic red stage curtain remained closed last night. It gracefully draped the stage, but hung back toward mid-stage to frame the space for a piano, upright bass, and percussion kit. Several spotlights illuminated the stage, giving way to a thin haze in the air. The type of haze that used to hang in the air at Dowe’s on 9th.
Shortly after 7:30, acclaimed jazz vocalist and pianist Diana Krall took the stage to a nearly sold-out crowd. Accompanied by Matt Chamberlain on percussion and Sebastian Steinberg on bass. Krall brought her expansive catalog to Heinz Hall, representing her career that spans over thirty years. Having sold over 15 million albums and recognized as one of the top jazz artists in the world, Krall’s contralto vocals shone throughout the show.
Opening with her 2020 hit “Almost Like Being in Love,” Krall and her band dazzled with pristine jazz arrangements and a relaxed vibe that set the tone for her 90-minute set. She quickly delved into other hits, including “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “Do Nothin’ Til You Hear From Me,” “The Girl in the Other Room” – the title track to her 2004 album, which she self-composed after marrying singer-songwriter Elvis Costello a year prior.
Paying tribute to Nat King Cole, Krall breezed through an instrumental piece from his album, After Midnight, which Krall noted as a personal favorite of hers. The trio then triumphed in the up-tempo “Just You, Just Me,” before Krall took some time for a solo set. Beginning with “The Look of Love,” this 2001 song continued to personify a key theme throughout Krall’s show – love. Whether rejoicing in or yearning for, many of Krall’s numbers detailed the wonderment of love. She continued her solo set with a cover of the ever-popular “L-O-V-E.” Krall delivered her original song, “Love Letters,” with a sense of yearning that was both emotional and comforting in its solace. Finally, Krall took requests, but with so many audience members yelling their favorite songs, Krall settled on Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon,” declaring it a “sing-along,” before ending with the classic “They Can’t Take That Away from Me.”
Upon the band’s return, Krall dove into several more classics, including “You’ve Changed.” Throughout the show, I couldn’t help but think of how some of Krall’s musical choices stylistically reminded me of Joni Mitchell’s jazz era, with both women being confident singer-songwriters. “You’ve Changed” solidified this notion as Mitchell recorded the song later in her jazz era.
Krall, Chamberlain, and Steinberg all individually shone throughout the evening. Chamberlain showed his versatility switching between hand drums and a standard drum kit, and Steinberg’s solo moment on “I’m Confessin’ (That I Love You)” was a highlight of the show. Krall, of course, carried the torch all evening and even delighted the audience with a rendition of “Route 66,” cheekily noting that she was in Pittsburgh, not on the famous highway. Her low vocal tones were soft, smooth, seductive, and perfectly understated. Her piano playing was delicate and fluid.
The haze that hung in the air transformed Heinz Hall into a jazz club from a century ago, proving just how timeless a genre jazz can be. The music flowed in a melodic, relaxing manner that delivered a sense of euphoria, but also made you want a cigarette at the same time. The trio’s jam sessions, which occurred in the middle of each song, felt both impromptu and conveyed the sense that the instruments were those of three old friends having a familiar conversation. Each number had a richer, velvety smoothness than the next in an evening that brought style, sensuality, and coolness to Heinz Hall.
Diana Krall is indeed a dynamic vocalist, talented musician, and timeless artist who can transport audiences to a 1930s NYC jazz club.
Diane Krall performed at Heinz Hall on Wednesday, January 2, 2025.
Categories: Arts and Ideas, Reviews
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