The jazz pianist’s Wednesday concert at Grand Rapids’ outdoor amphitheater proved to be a display of elegance, grooving rhythms and fan favorites. (Review, photo gallery)
Sunny Jazz: Diana Krall on stage at Meijer Gardens on Wednesday night. (Photo/Kendra Kamp)
Under a full moon, pitched against the afterglow of an elegant sunset, Diana Krall, backed by a quartet of capable musicians, performed a delicate and beautiful set of fan favorites and classics at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park on Wednesday night.
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The 52-year-old Canadian jazz pianist proved to be a perfect fit for the laid-back environment typically cultivated at the amphitheater.
Mid-Week Crowd: Gorgeous weather greeted fans on Wednesday. (Photo/Kendra Kamp)
On this particular evening, a capacity audience sat silently and attentively during slow-moving ballads like “Wallflower,” with couples dancing at the edge of the stage along to the rumba instrumentals of “Sway,” and appropriately so.
There were upbeat moments, too: Once fans recognized the refrain of The Band’s “Ophelia” pounding through the speakers, the audience roared and clapped along energetically to the timeless tune.
A round of solos from each musician further amplified the energy. Sweeping violin melodies, smooth jazz guitar licks and a grooving rhythm section was tied together by Krall’s captivating prowess on the piano.
After her entrancing main set and a standing ovation, Krall and band returned to the stage for a five-song encore, ending with the jazz standard, “East of the Sun (and West of the Moon).” The smooth number brought the evening to a fitting and gentle finale under the darkening night sky.
PHOTO GALLERY: Diana Krall at Meijer Gardens
Photos by Kendra Kamp
