Live Review: Diana Krall

As the wind howled around the harbour and the temperature dropped from the summery heights Sydney has been accustomed to of late, inside the Concert Hall the stillness was complete. Diana Krall practically ran across the stage to the safety of her piano stool and promptly avoided looking at the audience for most of her performance.

Nervous you would think, but she later confided that she actually felt right at home and despite her quick and awkward banter between songs, she looked it. Within seconds of touching the keys it was apparent that Krall played the piano like it was an extension of her; dextrous and effortless, it was second nature. She switched easily from frenzied fingers flying up and down the keys in opener I Love Being Here With You, to dreamy suspended chords in Do It Again which was beautifully heightened by the sweet swells of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra led by her old friend, conductor Alan Broadbent. The chemistry between Krall and her three-piece band was electric as they swapped styles, tempos and time signatures seamlessly. They showcased their considerable skill with impressive solos but most of all, their sheer enjoyment at playing together was a pleasure to watch.

And then there was Krall's voice: smouldering, husky and oozing attitude. She spat out lyrics in a hushed whisper, and pulled at your heartstrings with pleas cracking with emotion yet never dropped her cool façade. A beautiful moment was her solo medley of Neil Young songs, with whom she recently toured Canada with. Her admiration for Nat King Cole was also evident in her song selection, but it was her stunning encore of Burt Bacharach's The Look Of Love that stole the show. Amazingly talented, Krall created record-perfect music and displayed an unexpected humility and vulnerability that was endearing and charmed the pants off an already admiring crowd. The only regret was that the orchestra felt a little underutilised.