This autumn, Grammy-winning pianist and vocalist Diana Krall returns to the UK for two special performances as part of her extensive 2025 European tour. The Canadian jazz icon will appear at Symphony Hall, Birmingham on Saturday 4 October, followed by a second UK date at the Brighton Centre on Monday 6 October.
It has been 8 years since Krall has toured the UK. Her return to the stage follows the international success of her 2020 album This Dream of You, a collection of romantic standards and late-night ballads that reaffirm her place as a master interpreter of the Great American Songbook. This 40-date tour starting in September 2025 begins in Denmark and includes stops in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands.
Diana Krall stands as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary jazz, with a career spanning over three decades and global album sales exceeding 15 million. A two-time Grammy winner and recipient of ten Juno Awards (Canada), Krall is the only jazz singer to have had eight albums debut at the top of the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.
Born in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, Krall grew up learning the piano from her father’s Fats Waller records and began performing from an early age in her local community. She was awarded a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music, after which she moved to L.A. where she met the likes of Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton and Ray Brown who quickly became her musical mentor.
When releasing her album Only Trust Your Heart, Krall met another career-shaping mentor in Tommy LiPuma. His impact on her recording discography helped her receive nominations for Album of the Year as well as record breaking stints on Billboard charts and most importantly, a cherished life-long friendship. Her 2020 release of This Dream of You, is a deeply personal collection that serves as a posthumous tribute to LiPuma, who sadly passed away in 2017.
The project draws from their final studio sessions together and showcases Krall’s delicate phrasing and elegant restraint across a set of ballads, bossa novas, and lesser-known gems. The album’s title track, a Bob Dylan cover, sits alongside material by Irving Berlin, Johnny Mercer, and more, offering a gentle, reflective mood throughout. As ever, Krall lets the songs breathe, inhabiting each lyric with a sense of lived-in intimacy. This Dream of You reminds us why Krall remains an artist of rare interpretive depth.
The album recording showcases Krall at her most intimate and expressive, supported by a stellar lineup of musicians including guitarist Russell Malone, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Jeff Hamilton, names that will be familiar to fans of Krall’s earlier work. The album’s understated arrangements allow plenty of room for phrasing, silence, and space, qualities that translate beautifully to a live setting, where Krall’s conversational interplay with her band often brings unexpected nuance to well-loved standards. Whether she’s injecting playful swing into “Almost Like Being in Love” or caressing the contours of a ballad like “Autumn in New York”, Krall’s performances are marked by a subtle, unflashy command that invites the listener in rather than holds them at a distance. It’s also worth mentioning the haunting music video of Autumn in New York that was released with the album. The footage of the empty streets, the quiet parks and the eerie absence of the hustle and bustle that New York is famous for is the perfect backdrop for Krall’s arrangement.
While This Dream of You was released during the height of the pandemic and couldn’t be toured at the time, this upcoming series of concerts offers a rare chance to hear that material as it was meant to be experienced—live, in the moment, with Krall’s signature blend of elegance and emotional directness. Fans will likely also be treated to favourites from across her catalogue, from early trio recordings to more orchestral ballads and her celebrated takes on the Great American Songbook.
With her return to the UK stage marking her first appearance in eight years, these shows in Birmingham and Brighton promise to be a highlight of the autumn jazz calendar. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing an artist of Krall’s calibre perform live. Her presence is understated but magnetic, her delivery cool yet deeply affecting. For long-time admirers and newcomers alike, these concerts will offer a rare opportunity to experience one of jazz’s most enduring voices in a setting that celebrates intimacy, nuance, and timeless songcraft.
Tickets from Ticketline or from the venues – links below
