June 29: Game face on

The Montreal Jazz Festival isn’t really off my beaten path, nor that of many others.  This world class fest is celebrating its 35^th year.  To celebrate this milestone, Diana Krall, who has honed many a riff here, headline the Sunday outdoor concert.  I join the crowds 2 hours ahead of the event.  People still recall how many had camped out for Stevie Wonder 5 years previously.

I detect the raspiness and pained look as she tries to hit notes, missing at times.  To my physician ears, she has laryngitis.  Not until her hubby Elvis Costello, who is playing the paid concert gig next door in Place des Arts, joins her on stage and takes over vocals does she relax into her music.  I admire her more for this, performing gamely to the expectant crowd despite a shaky voice.