A Concert Review of Diana Krall (San Sebastian Jazz Festival, 2008)
29 Aralık 2022
Bengi Omaç
I have just watched and listened to the concert of Diana Krall, which was performed in 2008 at San Sebastian Jazz Festival. Since we were at home, I made myself a cup of coffee before I started and sat on my couch, trying to get as comfortable as possible to enjoy the music. When I started the concert, I saw that the band consisted of four members with different instruments: Diana Krall on the piano, Antony Wilson on the guitar, Robert Hurst on the bass, and Jeff Hamilton on the drum. Diana was wearing a simple black dress, and the other performers were wearing suits. The stage was black, and the lighting was bright; therefore, the attention was entirely on the performers.
The concert started with a song called “Let’s fall in love.” I believe the first impression is vital for the remaining of a concert, and this song got me! It was a simple, elegant, and medium-tempo song. Diana Krall’s kind of a blues improvisation, her vocal, and the instruments were in harmony. In general, the songs were medium and slow tempos, such as “The Look of Love” and “I’ll string along,” and the performers made me feel peaceful and chill. The song called “The look of love” was a sentimental ballad which I loved. Diana’s solo with blue notes was amazing, and the guitar accompanied her with Latin sounds. There was one song called “A case of you” that was performed with only piano and vocals by Diana Krall. It was a relaxing and beautiful song however that song was a different one because it’s the piece where I felt jazz effect the least. I felt like I was listening to a regular slow track. Furthermore, I realized that Jeff Hamilton was playing with his hands on the song “Someone exactly by you.” It amazed me because I didn’t expect something like that, but I think it added a different spirit to the song. There were a few up-tempo songs, like “Devil May Care” and “Do I Love You.” You can hear the bass walking in these songs, and the solos and improvisations are weighted. I liked them, but it felt like sometimes I got lost and couldn’t find my way home. However, in a concert with medium-tempo songs in general, high-tempo songs also keep the audience in the moment. If the entire concert is at the same tempo, it might be boring for the listeners.
To sum up, I enjoyed the concert very much, and I found the whole performance easy to listen to. I was never tired while listening. Diana Krall’s blues-jazz piano solos and vocals were impressive. Diana’s vocals and the instruments were in perfect harmony, so it was more enjoyable to listen to. Antony Wilson’s guitar solos were outstanding, complementing the piano expertly. I really felt the Groove from the first moment to the last and accompanied songs by clapping. Additionally, although I still have a long way to go, I realized that I learned something about jazz, which made me very happy, and I promise myself that I will go to a jazz concert when the good days come back.