Review: The Sydney Symphony Orchestra Joins With Diana Krall For The Sydney Leg Of Her WALLFLOWER WORLD TOUR

Wednesday 27th January 2016, 8pm, Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House

Diana Krall's deep smoky jazz fills Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall as she teams up with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra on the first Australian stop of her WALLFLOWER WORLD TOUR. The Grammy Award winning singer and pianist shares arrangements from her newest album WALLFLOWER along with other favorites in a night of relaxed classic jazz.

The Concert Hall stage is transformed into the intimacy of a 1930's velvet lined jazz hall with a backdrop blocking out the choir stalls and false ceiling allowing the lights illuminating the curtains to have greater effect. Ms Krall's 5 piece band is situated across the stage in front of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

The night is a beautiful blend of close to 2 hours of songs from the WALLFLOWER album and others from Krall's previous recordings and draws from old and new works ranging from Gershwin, Nat King Cole, The Eagles and Neil Finn. There is a lovely relaxed ease as Krall is immersed in the music, sharing her smoky deep contralto in a fluid performance that appears to change from night to night, depending on what she feels like playing.

Krall is touring with her fabulously talented band of Anthony Wilson (Guitar), Emmanuel Riggins (percussion), Kevin Warren (Keyboards), Dennis Crouch (Double Bass) and Stuart Duncan (Fiddle and Stran Violin). It is easy to see, and hear, why Krall says she gets mesmerized by their music and forgets her cues. Krall and each of the band present fabulous solos of freeform improvisation. The arrangements for the band and the orchestra, under the baton of Chris Walden, make wonderful use of the string section and the harp and provide a lovely contrasting texture.

For Krall fans and those less familiar with her work, this is a wonderful opportunity to experience soulful fluid jazz. The Sydney leg of the tour finishes on Saturday 30th January and then the tour moves on to Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth before heading to Asia.

DIANA KRALL - THE WALLFLOWER TOUR

With Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House

27-30 January 2016

Hamer Hall, Melbourne

1 - 2 February 2016

Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra

5 February 2016

Convention Centre, Brisbane

8 February 2016

Festival Centre, Adelaide

10 February 2016

Kings Park, West Perth

13 February 2016