Recognized as one of jazz’s pre-eminent vocalists Dianne Reeves: Video

23.10. – Happy Birthday !!! Recognized as one of jazz’s pre-eminent vocalists, Grammy winner Dianne Reeves is one of the most significant singers in jazz. While her singing is steeped in tradition, her rhythmic virtuosity and improvisational ease are breathtaking.

Reeves has won the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for each of her last three recordings: A Little Moonlight in 2003, The Calling in 2001 and In The Moment- Live in Concert in 2000. In fact, Reeves is the only recording artist in any singing category to have accomplished such a feat three records in a row. In 2006, Dianne Reeves went on to yet again garner the award for a fourth record-breaking time for best jazz vocal album for her soundtrack to the film Good Night, and Good Luck (Concord).

Dianne Reeves was clearly born of jazz; her singing draws upon a world of influences-and as with Carmen McRae and Billie Holiday, Reeves is tied to a powerful storytelling instinct. Reeves was the first vocalist signed to the reactivated Blue Note/EMI label in 1987. As a result of her unique R&B and jazz stylings, Reeves has since captured a huge following and tremendous critical acclaim throughout the world.

Reeves was featured with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra for several Duke Ellington projects in celebration of Ellington’s Centennial. A recording with Daniel Barenboim and the Chicago Symphony, and a concert appearance at Carnegie Hall with Sir Simon Rattle and the Orchestra of St. Lukes were among her appearances associated with the Ellington Centennial salute.

In 2002, Reeves performed at the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. She also received the Ella Fitzgerald Award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, released a career-spanning compilation CD on Blue Note, The Best of Dianne Reeves and was featured on the season finale of HBO’s “Sex & the City”.

In late 2002, Reeves worked with legendary producer Arif Mardin (Norah Jones, Aretha Franklin) on her new album, A Little Moonlight, an intimate and highly praised collection of ten standards featuring her touring trio (pianist Peter Martin, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Greg Hutchinson).

Reeves spent much of 2003 touring throughout the world. She received an Honorary Doctorate from the Berklee College of Music in the fall and closed out the year on New Year’s Eve performing a program of Gershwin with the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Simon Rattle – a performance broadcast live throughout much of Europe and the Far East. Around the same time, Reeves became the first internationally renowned jazz artist to perform in Qatar. The Peninsula, Qatar’s preeminent English language paper said of Reeves, “A starburst of song exploded onto the stage along with the rain, a musical front moved through Qatar on Thursday evening changing the musical landscape forever.”

September 2004 marked the release of Dianne’s first holiday recording, Christmas Time is Here. Destined to be a classic, Christmas Time is Here features unforgettable renditions of Little Drummer Boy, Carol of the Bells, Christmas Waltz, I’ll Be Home For Christmas, Let It Snow and many, many more.

It’s a credit to Dianne Reeves that her latest, When You Know (2008), is equal to recent accomplishments as her 2001 tribute to Sarah Vaughan, The Calling, 2003’s A Little Moonlight, or her lush contributions to the Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) soundtrack. When an artist consistently, unerringly earns top marks, another “A” is as much to be expected as praised. Here the fundamental difference is the four-time Grammy winner’s decision, honed on the road over the past year, to record with two guitarists, Russell Malone and Romero Lubambo, augmented by familiar names from past albums: pianist Billy Childs, saxophonist Steve Wilson, bassists Reuben Rogers and Reginald Veal and drummer Greg Hutchison.