Q+A: Diana Krall

Wednesday, June 13, 2007 | 7:27 a.m.

ILLUSTRATION BY CHRIS MORRIS

Jazz great Diana Krall makes her Las Vegas debut this week at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Krall, 42, is a new mom. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with her rock-legend husband, Elvis Costello, and the couple's 6-month -old twins, Dexter Henry Lorcan and Frank Harlan James.

Krall began playing piano when she was 4 in Nanaimo, British Columbia, and attended Berklee College of Music in Boston before beginning her jazz career.

She earned an early following for her sultry vocals set against the sparse framework of a piano trio, paying homage to greats such as Nat King Cole. But she became a crossover superstar with her 1999 album , "When I Look in Your Eyes," which won a Grammy for jazz vocals and was the first jazz disc nominated for album of the year in 25 years. She's done music for movies - "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil " - and TV - "Sex and the City."

She's playing with old friends in Las Vegas. Bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton backed Krall on her first album, "Stepping Out , " in 1993. At the Hilton, she'll be playing with the big band the two formed in 1985, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.

Krall was at home in Vancouver when she spoke with the Sun.

Q: How is your husband?

I saw his show in New York recently. It was one of the best concerts I've ever been to in my life.

Do you and he have any differences of opinion about music?

No. Never, actually. Not really.

What about in child rearing?

No. That's why we got married. We get along very well, I must say.

How has having children affected your career?

It's challenging because I want to be with them all the time. And I also want to be a musician, because that's what I've always done my whole life. I've never known anything else. I've always played music. It's been my life force, my everything to me, and now my children are everything to me. So, I have to pace myself. It's a challenge .

Do you feel guilty that music takes you away from your children, or your children take you away from your music?

I don't feel guilty. Guilt is not a good word. I don't feel guilty at all. I just feel tired. I'm not guilty, just tired.

Having 6-month-old twins must be a handful.

It's intense, but it's great. I'm in Vancouver, B.C., right now. I'm lagging really hard because we just flew from London. I'm jet lagging. It's been hard on the babies. I've been mostly paying attention to them all day, as you should.

This is your first tour since their birth. Is Elvis staying home with the children while you travel?

Oh no. I'll take them with me.

Are you excited about coming to Las Vegas?

Very excited because it will be my first time doing shows with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. It will be a first for me, to sing with a big band. That's a challenge I'm really looking forward to. I'll be singing with the orchestra in Las Vegas and also at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The rest of the tour will be with my usual band - Anthony Wilson, John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton.

You've been with Clayton and Hamilton a long time.

John Clayton has been my friend and my mentor. He and Jeff kind of raised me. I was their student when I was 19 and moved to L.A. They were kind of my hero e s from the time I was a kid because they played with Monty Alexander, who was my favorite piano player, and because of their association with Ray Brown. All the people I loved, they played with. We have a huge history. They're like family to me, those guys. We once did a Christmas record together and I had such a great time making it with them that I decided to do an album of standards with them. Basically, John has been someone that I've admired and studied with, as well as Jeff Hamilton, my whole life, really, and now they tour with me, which is great because I'm still learning.

Tell us about the tour. How long is it?

It's a summer tour. Then there's a "Best of ... " record coming out in the fall so I'm basically touring - working on a new album and touring again, forever.

What might be on the "Best of ... "?

They say "Best of ..." But it sort of depends on how you feel about that. It's just going to be some selected tunes with three extra tracks, three unreleased tracks. The rest will be selections from each record I've done.

Have you ever performed in Las Vegas ?

No, but I'm a huge fan of Frank Sinatra, who sort of wrote the whole history of it. I'm kind of a sentimental soul. The history of Vegas, and Nat King Cole at the Sands. If they ever make a time travel machine, that's where I'd like to go, to the Sands listening to Nat King Cole or Frank Sinatra.

Is it also your first visit to Vegas?

No, because my friend Elton John is there. And after Celine leaves I believe Bette Midler will be there, another friend of mine. I've been there to see Elton perform a couple of times.

So you're familiar with our congestion?

No, not at all. I just flew in and flew out. I had lots and lots of fun there.

You stay busy. Would you describe yourself as a workaholic?

I don't really consider it work. The work part is being away from home and family. But it's something I've always done.

Are the twins musically inclined? Genetically, how could they not be?

They love music. They're only 6 months old, but they're interested. I took them to an art gallery and they looked at the paintings and colors. I'm sure they are very aware.

Do you surround them with music?

I can't help it. They're a tough audience, though. I put them in their little bouncer seats and played the piano for them. I got a little crying from one and laughter from the other - sort of mixed reviews.