Just wanted to share this with you ... Last Wednesday, Amsterdam, the Concertgebouw. Diana Krall in Concert.
The Concertgebouw is an amazing hall. Historic, built for concerts only and usually reserved for the greats from the world of classical music. The bill for the next three months shows only three non-YoYoMas & Sophie von Otters & the like. The acoustics of the hall are unbelievable. Even at capacity crowd, every whisper can be heard. Mikes are unnecessary. The sound is always crisp and natural, anywhere in the hall. The raised stage is inside the room so the performers are literally surrounded by people. The audience on the left and the right (officially the choir stands, but sold as seats when there is no choir) look down on the performers. The back of the stage is a gigantic 19th century pipe organ. It's Holland's sacred music temple. Diana was clearly impressed by the setting and seemed nervous. She thawed after the reception of the songs. And then something magical happened. Towards the end of the concert (mostly jazz & musical standards - with regular combo) she started playing the keys of the piano so softly and subtly that the instrument almost whispered. The entire audience literally fell silent. No coughing, nothing. The intro lasted minutes. And then she played a 10-minute version of A Case of You. Sooooo beautiful, I just could not believe it. I liked the Joni Tribute version. But this was nothing like that performance. The song had clearly grown on her. It came from her toes. When she was finished (just single keystrokes whereby the word 'stroke' is totally appropriate) there was silence. Just a few seconds. And then the applause ... more than 5 minutes. For one song. For a song that most of the audience didn't even know (it was very much the rich, evening dress & fancy suit older crowd). Diana did not go into the next song - none of the professional keep-the-show-going stuff. She just sat on her stool, looking at the ground and said: "I am so sad .... That was Joni Mitchell." She played only two more songs. All through the concerts she made snide and cynical comments to song lyrics "'Love can be so cruel' ... oh, don't I just know that!". Perhaps she just had a break-up experience of some kind. That may have helped. But whatever she was going through, she turned "A Case Of You" into an unbelievable experience. It was one of the highlights of my entire life as a concert goer. And Diana knew she had excelled herself. The Concertgebouw had once again worked its magic. As soon as I stepped out of the building, I walked over to a telephone booth to call my Joni soulmate in the US to share the experience. I needed too. After that, we went out for beers. A case seemed to be too much, I was a bit drunk already. Amsterdam is beautiful at night. John
