Some fans of jazz artist Diana Krall apparently don’t like jazz.

[JSngry]

https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/05/17/review-diana-krall-concert-tour-mountain-winery-saratoga/

I mean, I'm not a big fan or anything, but truth is truth!

[rostasi]

Without paywall

[JSngry]

Sorry about that.. it was in my Google news feed and didn't have a paywall for me.

I hate paywalls.

[rostasi]

That's OK. We all have these different setups.
It happened to me, so I thought maybe it may happen elsewhere.

[Dan Gould]

Is it really any surprise given the way she was promoted and who she is married to?

I'd like to know if the writer makes any effort to explain to people what jazz artists do and why there are these boring interminable instrumentals that might reward close listening if the complainers had the slightest ability to listen closely.

[dicky]

Your title and the review are somewhat at odds. People left. Why? Who knows. The venue appears to have a capacity of 2500. If half the audience split that's still pretty impressive.

I'm no Krall fan. But she's a gateway artist. She can play & a certain percentage of her fans will ultimately discover musicians we all admire. Ain't nothing wrong with that.

Her husband of now 20+ years, Elvis Costello, recorded w/ Ray Brown as early as 1986. I presume a portion of her audience stems from him. 

 

[JSngry]

24 minutes ago, Dan Gould said:

Is it really any surprise given the way she was promoted and who she is married to?

I'd like to know if the writer makes any effort to explain to people what jazz artists do and why there are these boring interminable instrumentals that might reward close listening if the complainers had the slightest ability to listen closely.

He was (sorta) reviewing a show, not teaching a Music Appreciation class.

4 minutes ago, dicky said:

Your title and the review are somewhat at odds. 

Not my title. That was the headline of the review, copied and pasted verbatim.

[dicky]

Not my title. That was the headline of the review, copied and pasted verbatim.

First line of the review. My apologies for missing that.

 

[sambrasa]

23 minutes ago, dicky said:

Your title and the review are somewhat at odds. People left. Why? Who knows. The venue appears to have a capacity of 2500. If half the audience split that's still pretty impressive.

I'm no Krall fan. But she's a gateway artist. She can play & a certain percentage of her fans will ultimately discover musicians we all admire. Ain't nothing wrong with that.

Her husband of now 20+ years, Elvis Costello, recorded w/ Ray Brown as early as 1986. I presume a portion of her audience stems from him. 

 

I haven't heard much from Elvis Costello, but the album he did with Bill Frisell in 1999, The Sweetest Punch, is excellent.

[Pim]

I’ve read some reviews here and there on the internet by attenders of several gigs that her latest concerts are not good. Some say she seems to be drunk or intoxicated forgetting lyrics and tunes to play, mumbling instead of singing. I don’t know. I’m no fan but hope she’s okay.

[Dan Gould]

11 hours ago, JSngry said:

He was (sorta) reviewing a show, not teaching a Music Appreciation class.

 

From the article:

I’ve come to that conclusion based on years of hearing people grumble at her concerts about the long improvisational instrumental portions, a sentiment that has been underscored by the emails I’ve received from disappointed concert-goers who disagree with my typically positive assessment of Krall’s live performances.

In all of the above cases, they seem to want a stronger focus on the vocals, which is quite understandable given how great Krall is on the microphone. And they want her to sing in a more straightforward singer-songwriter/pop fashion, instead of using her voice as a jazz instrument.

He is speaking to people and receiving emails about how terrible it is that she plays jazz at her jazz shows.  That's why I asked if he ever tells people that's what she is and does.

[Big Beat Steve]

34 minutes ago, Dan Gould said:

In all of the above cases, they seem to want a stronger focus on the vocals, which is quite understandable given how great Krall is on the microphone. And they want her to sing in a more straightforward singer-songwriter/pop fashion, instead of using her voice as a jazz instrument.

He is speaking to people and receiving emails about how terrible it is that she plays jazz at her jazz shows.  That's why I asked if he ever tells people that's what she is and does.

Not that I've ever been overwhelmed by what I've heard by Diana Krall, but this ...
It must be frustrating if that large a part of the audience is THAT clueless ... Or maybe her live appearances are not targeted enough to attract an audience that is at least passably aware (and appreciative) of what jazz is?

[Dan Gould]

45 minutes ago, Big Beat Steve said:

Not that I've ever been overwhelmed by what I've heard by Diana Krall, but this ...
It must be frustrating if that large a part of the audience is THAT clueless ... Or maybe her live appearances are not targeted enough to attract an audience that is at least passably aware (and appreciative) of what jazz is?

The hazards of becoming a pop star ... I guess Norah Jones doesn't suffer this problem because she keeps the jazz content minimal to non-existent?  She does have jazz chops from what I have heard (I think).

[mr jazz]

Ok vocalist, pretty good player but I can generally think of an artist who does a better version of whatever cover she is doing.

[JSngry]

1 hour ago, Dan Gould said:

From the article:

I’ve come to that conclusion based on years of hearing people grumble at her concerts about the long improvisational instrumental portions, a sentiment that has been underscored by the emails I’ve received from disappointed concert-goers who disagree with my typically positive assessment of Krall’s live performances.

In all of the above cases, they seem to want a stronger focus on the vocals, which is quite understandable given how great Krall is on the microphone. And they want her to sing in a more straightforward singer-songwriter/pop fashion, instead of using her voice as a jazz instrument.

He is speaking to people and receiving emails about how terrible it is that she plays jazz at her jazz shows.  That's why I asked if he ever tells people that's what she is and does.

I don't have access to his emails. I would hope that he does 

20 minutes ago, Dan Gould said:

The hazards of becoming a pop star ... I guess Norah Jones doesn't suffer this problem because she keeps the jazz content minimal to non-existent?  She does have jazz chops from what I have heard (I think).

Pop star? What was her big hit? Sure, she was marketed with glamor and married a rock star, but she herself? I doubt she merits "celebrity", much less "pop star".

[Rabshakeh]

Isn't this a standard issue for jazz vocalists though? One that affected Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald? 

[JSngry]

Sarahhired a piano player. So did Carmen McRae. Ella was a big band singer.

Shirley Horn defended her position quite nicely.

 

[Rabshakeh]

What I mean is that normie fans of jazz vocalists not enjoying jazz vocals has a pedigree that could get its own category at Crufts. 

[clifford_thornton]

Very strange indeed. I never really cared for/about her, but agree that the jazz content is part of the deal!

[Dan Gould]

1 hour ago, JSngry said:

I don't have access to his emails. I would hope that he does 

Pop star? What was her big hit? Sure, she was marketed with glamor and married a rock star, but she herself? I doubt she merits "celebrity", much less "pop star".

"Star" was a poor choice of words but she was marketed as modern day singer of pop & standards ... to quote from that article

And they want her to sing in a more straightforward singer-songwriter/pop fashion, instead of using her voice as a jazz instrument.

[JSngry]

Up to a point....but never fully. They always (at her insurance IIRC) made room for her piano 

I'm a bit surprised that she's not had her movie song moment. Or has she! I'd not be the one to know that.

[mikeweil]

2 hours ago, Rabshakeh said:

Isn't this a standard issue for jazz vocalists though? One that affected Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald? 

My thoughts, too. But as a singer you always work at the broad line between jazz and so-called popular music. 

It is not much better in classical music. How many can remember a melody without words, or even memorize a solo?

[Niko]

I also read a bit through online reviews and I find it hard to decide whom to blame... yes, some solos by sidemen are to be expected in jazz... but some reviewers complain about ridiculously extensive features for the bassist and the drummer... now, I would actually need to see it myself to judge - but I do agree that there is a line here that can be crossed even from a jazz fan's perspective... good for the bassist and the drummer, but if it's the leaders laziness rather than artistic reasons that motivate those solos... then again, in the reviewed concert she had a pianist and a guitar player with her as well so there should have been enough variation

[JSngry]

It's supposedly a REALLY good paying gigs and all of those guys get plenty of work elsewhere. They're excellent players, so it's not like there's a drop in quality, and hey, the feel appreciated past the money.

Not all singers gigs are like that.