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| Photo: RJ Capak |
Singer Dianne Reeves was born in Detroit to a family full of musicians -- her father was a singer, her mother played trumpet, an uncle played bass for the Colorado Symphony, and pianist, composer and arranger George Duke is her cousin. She began studying piano at an early age and says she’s been singing as long as she can remember. Jazz music, particularly the songs of Sarah Vaughan, resonate in Reeve's childhood musical memories.
At age 16, Reeves began singing with the local high school's jazz band. The group won a local competition that eventually led to a feature performance at the National Association of Jazz Educators. It was there that trumpeter Clark Terry first noticed Reeves' abilities and took her under his wing, encouraging her to pursue a career as a singer. She was invited on several occasions to sit in with Terry's All-Star group, which gave her the opportunity to sing with jazz legends such as Tommy Flanagan, Jimmy Rowles and Louis Bellson.
After attending the University of Colorado for a year, Reeves took off to Los Angeles to sing full time. Though the mid-1970s marked an ebb for traditional jazz, Reeves found success in L.A.'s studio scene. She also struck up a fruitful relationship with a budding jazz pianist named Billy Childs. The two worked together for several years in a fusion-style outfit called Night Flight, an environment that encouraged both artists to experiment and grow musically.
Reeves was introduced to a wider audience following an international tour with Sergio Mendes in 1981. A year later, she released her first album, Welcome My Love. That was followed by 1985's For Every Heart. In 1987, a newly reconstituted Blue Note Record label released its first new vocal record -- Reeves' third album, Dianne Reeves. Throughout the 1990s, Reeves continued to release albums on Blue Note, three of which received Grammy nominations.
In 2000, Reeves released In The Moment -- Live in Concert, which earned her her first Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance. Her subsequent two releases, The Calling in 2001 and A Little Moonlight in 2003, also won Grammys in the jazz vocal performance category. Three consecutive Grammys for three consecutive releases is an accomplishment unmatched by any other artist in any category.
Most recently, Reeves appeared on the soundtrack for the film Good Night, and Good Luck, yet another Grammy-winning performance. Reeves' next album is expected this fall.
Check out this week's Piano Jazz Shorts: the Piano Jazz podcast.
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Set List for Dianne Reeves on Piano Jazz:Million Dollar Secret (Bihari, Humes)
That's All (Brandt, Haymes)
Exactly Like You (Fields, McHugh)
Some Other Spring (Herzog, Kitchings)
Portrait of Dianne Reeves (McPartland)
Close Enough For Love (Mandel, Williams)
Old Country (Aderly, Lewis)
Softly As In A Morning Sunrise (Romberg, Hammerstein)
At age 16, Reeves began singing with the local high school's jazz band. The group won a local competition that eventually led to a feature performance at the National Association of Jazz Educators. It was there that trumpeter Clark Terry first noticed Reeves' abilities and took her under his wing, encouraging her to pursue a career as a singer. She was invited on several occasions to sit in with Terry's All-Star group, which gave her the opportunity to sing with jazz legends such as Tommy Flanagan, Jimmy Rowles and Louis Bellson.
After attending the University of Colorado for a year, Reeves took off to Los Angeles to sing full time. Though the mid-1970s marked an ebb for traditional jazz, Reeves found success in L.A.'s studio scene. She also struck up a fruitful relationship with a budding jazz pianist named Billy Childs. The two worked together for several years in a fusion-style outfit called Night Flight, an environment that encouraged both artists to experiment and grow musically.
Reeves was introduced to a wider audience following an international tour with Sergio Mendes in 1981. A year later, she released her first album, Welcome My Love. That was followed by 1985's For Every Heart. In 1987, a newly reconstituted Blue Note Record label released its first new vocal record -- Reeves' third album, Dianne Reeves. Throughout the 1990s, Reeves continued to release albums on Blue Note, three of which received Grammy nominations.
In 2000, Reeves released In The Moment -- Live in Concert, which earned her her first Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance. Her subsequent two releases, The Calling in 2001 and A Little Moonlight in 2003, also won Grammys in the jazz vocal performance category. Three consecutive Grammys for three consecutive releases is an accomplishment unmatched by any other artist in any category.
Most recently, Reeves appeared on the soundtrack for the film Good Night, and Good Luck, yet another Grammy-winning performance. Reeves' next album is expected this fall.
Check out this week's Piano Jazz Shorts: the Piano Jazz podcast.
Subscribe!
Set List for Dianne Reeves on Piano Jazz: