Diana Krall gives jazz a silken voice, cashmere on keys

By Mary Kaye Ritz
Advertiser Staff Writer

When you think Diana Krall, think pashima scarf.

Pashima, for you nontextural types, is a blend of silk and cashmere.

Even for her "Baywatch" packaging (and the 78-year-old Kailua man to my right and 30-something local guy to my left would have heartily recommended the Honolulu Symphony add a Jumbotron for this particular Pops concert), the jazz singer brought a silky voice and cashmere piano stylings to the best jazz concert in Honolulu since ... well, since her last Honolulu outing at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.

That's what I've heard, anyway. When Krall performed here early last year, I was at the venue next door, the Blaisdell Arena, being vaguely disappointed by the concert I heard there. As I was leaving that show, I came across some concert goers who were walking somewhere between the sidewalk and the stratosphere. They asked how the concert I just came from was, and I gave the universal hand wavering signal, "so-so." I asked about theirs, and they just burbled with glee.

Now I know what they meant.

After that concert, Krall went out and jammed with local musicians at a bar, and was accosted in the restroom by a jubilant woman who had just heard her perform at the concert hall.

Overcome by the talent, the woman couldn't contain herself: "Can I give you a hug?"

Krall, who showed herself the good sport this outing as well as at that time, acquiesced.

Last night, she was just as accommodating, playing new tunes off her upcoming album, including one, "Love Letters" by Nat King Cole, an unusual R&B song that she gives a jazz rendition to. She had never heard the song in full orchestration before. (She had recorded the rhythm section with her group before the London Symphony did its thing.)

Another world debut, made right here in Honolulu, which Krall dubbed her "home away from home," was "Maybe You'll Be There," off the Frank Sinatra album, "Where Are You?" – another unusual tune that she could make into a jazz standard.

From her Grammy-winning "When I Look Into Your Eyes" album came Cole Porter's "I've Got You Under My Skin," and "Frim-Fram Sauce," though, sadly, not the deliciously naughty "Popsicle Toes."

Krall, who was fighting off a cold that only served to make her smoky low notes all the huskier, still can dip an octave and then smooth out the high ones as quick as a hot iron on cotton. She was backed by a top-notch trio and conducted by Matt Catingub.

Catingub is the Pops conductor who shares a friend with Krall in Rosemary Clooney, herself coming in concert in November.

He opened the show with an hour of "local-style" jazz, backed by Gabe Baltazar, Bruce Hamada and Noel Okimoto, and singing duets with Ginai.

Standing-room only seats are available for tonight's and tomorrow's matinee performances.

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CORRECTION: The names of the Frank Sinatra tune and album were incorrect in a previous version of this story based on information supplied at the concert.