Diana Krall

About Diana Krall

Diana Krall turned piano jazz into something that could fill arenas without compromising much. She's sold more records than pretty much any other jazz artist of her generation, which is either impressive or depressing depending on how you feel about smooth production values meeting the Great American Songbook.

Born in Nanaimo, British Columbia in 1964, Krall grew up in a house where her father's record collection leaned heavily on jazz piano. She started playing at four, got serious about it as a teenager, and eventually landed a scholarship to Berklee. After that came the mandatory jazz musician pilgrimage to Los Angeles, where she studied with Jimmy Rowles, a pianist who'd worked with everyone from Billie Holiday to Ella Fitzgerald. That lineage matters when you're trying to understand why her approach feels both reverent and accessible.

Her early albums in the mid-90s established the template: standards, that distinctive contralto voice, piano trio arrangements that left room to breathe. But it was "Love Scenes" in 1997 that really connected, going gold and proving there was an audience for jazz that didn't require a music theory degree to enjoy. Then "When I Look in Your Eyes" in 1999 got nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammys, the first jazz album to pull that off in 25 years.

"The Look of Love" in 2001 pushed her into genuine pop territory. Produced by Tommy LiPuma with Claus Ogerman's orchestral arrangements, it went to number one on the Canadian charts and cracked the top ten in the US. You could hear it in hotel lobbies and coffee shops everywhere, which said something about both her reach and her aesthetic comfort zone.

She married Elvis Costello in 2003, which made for an interesting pairing on paper. Their musical overlap eventually surfaced on albums like "Wallflower" in 2015, where she covered songs by the Mamas and the Papas, Elton John, and Costello himself. It was a move toward the 60s and 70s pop-rock canon, expanding her range beyond the standard jazz repertoire.

"Glad Rag Doll" in 2012 found her digging into pre-war material with a rougher, more playful edge. Working with producer T Bone Burnett pushed her away from the polish that had defined her biggest commercial successes. It didn't sell like her mainstream work, but it reminded people she could swing hard when she wanted to.

These days she's an institution, still touring regularly and releasing albums that maintain her established approach. "This Dream of You" came out in 2020, featuring Bob Dylan covers alongside standards. She's not reinventing anything at this point, but she's built a career on reliability. Fans know exactly what they're getting, and enough of them keep showing up that she can still headline major venues without breaking a sweat.

Her shows are intimate despite the venue size. Audiences sit quietly, attentive, leaning forward. She plays piano for real at every show, no backing tracks. The energy is sophisticated and calm, with occasional moments of genuine wit between songs. People dress up. You hear silverware clinking.

Known for The Look of Love, Fly Me to the Moon, Black Keys, I'll Look Around, Love Looks Good on You

See Diana Krall Live