AMUSING STAR MEETING: Sissel Kyrkjebø and Diana Krall were delightful performing jazz standards at Hallen during Nattjazzen Wednesday evening.

Superb Krall, Even Kyrkjebø

By ERIK FOSSEN, translated from Norwegian by Robert A Jones

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"You've recorded this, haven't you?" asked Diana Krall.
"Yes, many years ago. What about you?" said Sissel Kyrkjebø Skoller.
"No, I haven't done it," said Krall.
"You ought to, you do it quite well," added Sissel.
"How did you learn it?"
"I bought the notes and read them."
"You didn't hear it first?" wondered Krall.
"No, I didn't. Sorry," replied Sissel.
"There's nothing wrong with that," assured Krall.
This little exchange, which led into the singers' presentation of the classic "Dream A Little Dream Of Me," was quite telling for the whole concert: Krall is an outstanding interpreter of jazz, whereas Kyrkjebø flies on a fantastic voice and not an especially jazzy repertoire. And backing them up, Bergen Big Band did all that was required of them in an effective and at times impressive manner.

First there were two opening duets, which both charmed and showed how curious the combination of Krall's thick, well-nuanced nightclub style and Kyrkjebø's delicate ballad style was.

After that the Bergensian left the podium to the Canadian shooting star, who clearly showed why she's a million-selling phenomenon with her repertoire of standard melodies. Both as a pianist and vocalist, Krall commands the lanuage of jazz to it's fullest, something that was clear from the way she flirtatiously incorporated Bergen into the text of Peggy Lee's "I Love Being Here With You" 'til she concluded, four songs later, with "Let's Fall In Love" from her last album. The highlight of the set was the unexpected Cole Porter's "I've Got You Under My Skin," in a softened, emotional Krall version, accompanied by a talented small bird which had sought shelter from the rain in the Hall.

Then it was Sissel Kyrkjebø's turn, and with the voice we know so well and the coquette mimic she was also charming as expected. Not that Sissel isn't any great jazz musician, but her problem was that she didn't really have much jazz in her set, only big-band arrangements of Edvard Grieg's "Spring" and another Vestland melody, a latin hymn and, of course, "Prince Igor." Her unexpected, vigorous arrangement made the latter song her best of the evening. The audience was especially pleased when the boys in Bergen Big Band rapped new, well-meant, witty and sometimes clumsy words at what would have been Warren G's part of the song.

And finally it was the end, with two new Kyrkjebø/Krall duets: "My Heart Belongs To Daddy" and "Amazing Grace". The demanding jazz standard, which Krall is expert at, was again obviously not Sissel's specialty. At any rate, the musicians, singers, especially Sissel, had a good time. And that the audience was satisfied was clear from standing ovations and happy comments.

"It was terribly wonderful. We live off of that there," said one lady. However, it's certain none are eager for several meetings between Kyrkjebø and jazz.

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