What's so good about Dianne Reeves?

With some artists, determining the focus of an AD's Guide entry is easy - one quality or focus stands out from the rest. With an artist like Dianne Reeves, though, I'm not sure where to start - I find her intriguing on so many levels: her instrument, her approach to improvisation, the way she engages with the audience…she is an excellent example of the elusive "complete package."

I can't remember exactly where I first heard Dianne Reeves - it's possible that it was on the radio, perhaps a track from her recording The Calling, celebrating the music of Sarah Vaughan. As a big band leader, I was intrigued by the arrangements; but her voice drew me in.

What is it, exactly, about Dianne Reeves which intrigues me? First, it's her instrument. As I've mentioned in previous posts, it's silly perhaps to say "this singer has a great voice"…but with Dianne it holds true. Hers is rich, full of colour and nuance - I feel I could listen to it all day. Next it's her interpretation of melodies - she doesn't need to do much; with a subtle shift in rhythm here, a held note there, she makes each tune her own, whether a jazz standard or something more contemporary. Then there's her approach to improvisation - Dianne never really gets flashy; she concentrates on quality over quality, ensuring her note choice is always tasty and satisfying. Enough talk - here's a sample which demonstrates all of the above:

So - great voice, great interpretation, tasty improvisation…anything else? Well, yes - Dianne Reeves is incredibly engaging, both on and off stage. The way she sings invites the audience in - from her first note to her last, the audience feels welcomed, and she radiates a joy from the stage. I had the pleasure of helping to produce a Dianne Reeves concert several years ago, and can confirm that she's just as welcoming behind the scenes - on the drive back to the hotel, she happily chatted about watching curling on the hotel television. No pretense, no attitude; instead the revelry about life in general which comes across in her singing. Here's a clip of a beautiful ballad, performed only with two guitars, which keeps the audience enraptured from beginning to end:

For her new album, Beautiful Life, Dianne has chosen songs which, according to her bio, "have touched [my] spirit in different ways." Although the songs span a variety of styles - swing, R&B, soul, reggae - each has undeniably been made her own. In my mind, that is the mark of a true artist. (You can see a short promo video about the new album here.)

Dianne Reeves performs Tuesday, June 24 at 8 pm on the Toronto Star Stage at Nathan Phillips Square. Joining her on stage will be Romero Lubambo (guitar), Reginald Veal (bass) and Terreon Gully (drums); the Brandi Disterheft Quartet opens up. Buy tickets now or, for more information, visit her concert page.

Josh