Diana Krall to close BC Scene May 2 and 3, 2009

Diana Krall to close BC Scene

May 2 and 3, 2009

Tickets on sale November 26

OTTAWA ’Äì Diana Krall, Canada’Äôs internationally acclaimed queen of jazz will perform live at the National Arts Centre’Äôs Southam Hall on Saturday, May 2, 2009, and Sunday, May 3 at 8 p.m. The performances will close out BC Scene, a dazzling, multi-disciplinary arts festival taking place over two weeks next spring in Ottawa-Gatineau to celebrate the culture of British Columbia.

Tickets for the two shows go on sale on November 26 from Ticketmaster at 613-755-1111 or through the Ticketmaster link on the BC Scene web site at www.bcscene.ca, or in person at the NAC Box Office at 53 Elgin Street. (A surcharge is applicable on all Ticketmaster purchases.)

This Ottawa stop on her national tour gives local audiences a chance to enjoy the spectacular songstress live on stage singing songs from her newest album, to be released early in 2009, along with favourites from her extensive repertoire.

Since her breakout album Stepping Out was released in 1993, Diana Krall’Äôs name has been synonymous with musical excellence. The B.C. native’Äôs sultry, imaginative interpretations of jazz standards have made her one of the world’Äôs most admired and recognized musicians, whose collaborations with jazz superstars such as Ray Charles and Tony Bennett, have bridged the gap to create new generations of jazz lovers around the world. With her smooth, sexy style and lush arrangements, Diana Krall has seduced both audiences devoted to jazz, and those with other musical preferences. Along with her luscious delivery and fresh interpretations of traditional jazz favourites such as George Gershwin’Äôs timeless ’ÄúThey Can’Äôt Take That Away from Me, and Cole Porter’Äôs ’ÄúI’Äôve Got You Under My Skin,’Äù Krall brings new life to more contemporary classics, such as Joni Mitchell’Äôs ’ÄúA Case of You.’Äù Whether singing to her own remarkable piano accompaniment, or backed by a full orchestra, Diana Krall’Äôs talent and engaging performance style are undeniable, and audiences lucky enough to spend an evening under her musically hypnotic thrall don’Äôt quickly forget the experience.

Diana Krall at BC Scene is the must-be-there event of the season and the perfect Christmas gift for any music lover. Diana Krall appears at BC Scene thanks in part to the support of The Radcliffe Foundation.

Born into a music-loving family in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Diana Krall began her musical journey during early childhood. While her mother sang in church, her father, a stride pianist with an extensive knowledge of jazz and Tin Pan Alley standards, had a massive record collection that introduced her to many of the jazz and pop greats who would inform her own musical development.

"I was immersed in music growing up," Krall recalls. "My father has a vast collection; he collects 78 records, and that's how I first heard Fats Waller, Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong. I connected with music on such an emotional level that it wasn't 'This is what I want to do,' it was 'This is what I have to do.'"

Krall’Äôs impressive skills on the piano attracted the attention of bass player Ray Brown (Ex-husband of jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald and longtime member of the Oscar Peterson Trio) and others, including producer Tommy LiPuma, who encouraged the young musician to hone her talents in Los Angeles and then in New York. Her career exploded when When I Look in Your Eyes won a GRAMMY^¬© for best jazz vocal and became the first jazz disc in twenty-five years to be nominated for Album of the Year. In 2002, The Look of Love was a #1 bestseller in the US and a seven-time platinum album in Canada. 2004’Äôs The Girl in the Other Room, was her first to focus on her own songwriting ’Äì featuring six tunes co-written with her husband, celebrated songwriter and singer Elvis Costello. Last year’Äôs Christmas Songs proved one of the season’Äôs best-sellers.

BC Scene

BC Scene will take place from April 21 to May 3, 2009. Part of a series of biennial national festivals exploring Canada’Äôs cultural panorama, BC Scene will celebrate a dynamic culture that is a fusion of traditional and contemporary, East and West, and established and emerging artists.

In what will be the largest gathering of British Columbia artists ever presented outside of the province, BC Scene will feature 600 artists from disciplines as varied as music, theatre, dance, visual and media arts, literature and culinary arts in more than 30 venues around the National Capital Region. Among those in attendance for this unique showcase of B.C. artists will be more than 60 Canadian and international presenters ’Äì producers, buyers, or talent scouts ’Äì to discover B.C. talent and bring it back to their own audiences.

Partners

A multitude of public and private organizations have come together to make BC Scene a reality. BC Scene would like to thank the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia and Western Economic Diversification Canada for their generous support of this event.

The National Arts Centre and National Arts Centre Foundation also extend warm thank you to the B.C. Strategy Council, a group of committed individuals whose leadership, support and guidance are key to the success of BC Scene. The B.C. Strategy Council is led by Honorary Chairs Milton and Fei Wong, Chair Donald B. Rix.

The NAC Foundation also gratefully acknowledges the support of Presenting Partner Plasco Energy Group, Special Partners The Audain Foundation for the Visual Arts in British Columbia, Martha Lou Henley, Milton and Fei Wong and Dr. Donald B. Rix. Acknowledgment is also extended to Major Partner Enbridge Inc. and Supporting Partner HSBC Bank Canada, the Holiday Inn and Screen Siren Pictures. For their commitment and support of B.C. arts and artists, we give special thanks to the NAC Friends ’Äì B.C. BC Scene Media Partners include CBC/Radio-Canada, The National Post, Vancouver Magazine and Western Living, The Ottawa Citizen, LeDroit, and The Vancouver Sun.

BC Scene would also like to thank the First Peoples’Äô Heritage, Language and Culture Council for their valuable assistance.

To register to receive programming updates about BC Scene, please subscribe to the BC Scene email list at www.bcscene.ca