Diana Krall, returning to the Sydney Opera House, talks about the heroes who inspired her new album. And going on stage half-zipped!

By Ian Horner
Updated December 17 2015 - 4:15pm, first published December 16 2015 - 8:00am

Jazz singer Diana Krall is returning to Sydney for her Wallflower tour. The new album is not a jazz album, but a collection of pop standards we all grew up with, slowed down a touch, mellowed out and unforgettable. She's on the line with IAN HORNER from her home in Vancouver and talks about working with Paul McCartney – she picked up a song for her album that he couldn't use on his album – and she talks about her heroes, shooting pool with Joni Mitchell and touring with Neil Young. Her trademark is re-inventing standards – pop, jazz, show tunes – like her wonderful version of Lerner and Loewe's I've Grown Accustomed to his Face, from My Fair Lady, which is a great track to sing to your husband, the singer Elvis Costello, when he's back home while you're on tour . . .