Ash came in to do a Virgin Superstars session on Wednesday, which I sat in on. These things take the form of an interview in front of a live audience, interspersed with songs, a couple of old ones (Girl From Mars and Burn Baby Burn) and a couple of new ones. All acoustic and all very intimate – they seem like a very relaxed bunch of guys. I look forward to the new album.
Then the next day, it was the one I was looking forward to. I’m on the BBC Concert Orchestra mailing list and they were recording a live concert with Diana Krall for broadcast in May. This was one hot ticket, and I was quite excited getting along to the Mermaid Theatre down in Blackfriars with a hall full of Radio 2 listeners. How did I get my tickets? Email competition.
Krall was on Parkinson at the weekend and I bought her new album on Monday (9.77 at Safeway). This was a concert full of jazz standards, accompanied by a set of gifted musicians. Krall herself plays the piano, nearly as much as she sings, and she’s surrounded with a Double Bass, Drums and Guitar. Together they were accompanied on many tracks by the massed ranks of the BBC CO.
I loved every minute of it. She’s the sort of singer who leaves you with a spring in your step as you depart.
Listen out on Radio 2 for the concert at 7.30 on 7 May!