Diana Krall in Rochester

About Diana Krall

Diana Krall is a Canadian jazz pianist and vocalist who became one of the best-selling jazz artists of the last two decades by making the Great American Songbook feel contemporary and lived-in. Born in Nanaimo, British Columbia in 1973, she studied in Los Angeles and London before releasing her breakthrough album "When I Look in Your Eyes" in 1999, which unexpectedly climbed mainstream charts worldwide. Her version of "The Look of Love" epitomizes her approach: sultry but never overwrought, delivered with the clarity of someone who understands every lyric she's singing. She's since become synonymous with sophisticated pop-jazz territory, working with producer Tommy LiPuma and touring arenas instead of clubs. Her appeal crosses generations because she treats these old songs with genuine respect rather than nostalgia. Krall plays piano at the core of everything—her fingers on the keys are the real voice here, with her vocals layered on top rather than vice versa.

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

Diana Krall + Rochester

Diana Krall has a quiet but steady presence in Rochester's concert calendar. Her last visit was March 30, 2022 at Auditorium Theatre, where she worked through her catalog of jazz standards and original material with the kind of precision that's made her one of the few jazz pianists most people have actually heard of. She's the sort of artist Rochester audiences appreciate — no pretense, just a woman at a piano doing the thing she's exceptionally good at. The show had the intimate quality her fans expect, even in a theater setting, with Krall's low-key stage presence letting the music speak. She closed things out with an encore that likely included something familiar enough to send people home satisfied.

Diana Krall in Rochester News

• ‘Cool And Sultry’ Diana Krall Reschedules US Shows, Adds New Dates uDiscover Music · Feb 17, 2022
• Diana Krall reschedules postponed concert at Saenger Theatre OffBeat Magazine · Feb 15, 2022
• Diana Krall talks Detroit and how Paul McCartney let her have an unreleased song MLive.com · Jul 30, 2015
• Jazz fest fave Diana Krall revisits '70s and '80s Democrat and Chronicle · Apr 25, 2015
• Diana Krall Concert In Rochester Sells Out WXXI News · Dec 3, 2014

Live Music in Rochester

Rochester's jazz tradition runs deep, rooted in the city's mid-century musical life. The Auditorium Theatre remains one of the few venues capable of hosting jazz artists at Krall's level — the kind of room where her intimate piano work actually lands. The city's audience for jazz standards and sophisticated pop-jazz leans older, more conversant in the tradition, which suits Krall perfectly. She represents a strain of jazz that prizes technical mastery and songcraft over experimental reach, exactly the thing Rochester's listening habits tend to favor.

Rochester road trip to see Diana Krall?

Stay in the Park Avenue neighborhood, where the tree-lined streets and historic homes create a genteel atmosphere without feeling stuffy. Dinner at Citrine, where the wine program is thoughtful and the kitchen respects its ingredients, sets the right tone. Before or after the show, spend an afternoon at the George Eastman Museum—the photography collection is world-class, and the house itself is a masterclass in early-20th-century design. It's the kind of place that makes you think differently about composition and light, which isn't a bad headspace before hearing Bilmuri's intricate arrangements.