Thee Diane Bonjour

Diane Schuur – Love Songs (1993)
MP3 320 Kbps | Label: Grp Records | Covers | 113MB
Genre: Jazz | 1CD | Release: 1993

This album, released in 1993, is a gorgeous collection of the worlds greatest standards. "Speak Low" isn't a standard, really, it's a Broadway tune also recorded and released in '93 by Barbra Streisand. Same song, really different versions. Tom Scott did one hell of a production job on this release. Diane is bathed in strings, each ballad carefully arranged, Jeremy Lubbock appears here to meld electronics with strings, as he does, and it works well without sounding too dated. The opening track. "When I Fall In Love" gives the listener an idea of what's in store, the glorious swelling of strings suggest a big, open sound and Diane's perfect pitch, perfect music. Her readings of all the songs here, as with all her recordings, are so emotinal and involved with the lyric, she and the song are one.

Captivating Jazz vocalist/pianist and her quartet performs innovative arrangements weaving together traditional Jazz and Brazilian jazz vocals. Following her nationally acclaimed debut release "A Sleepin' Bee", this Dianes's release once again offers a variety of playful gems such as the Latin flare of "Bernie's Tune", a burning version of "I Concentrate On You", and the Brazilian classic, "Só Danço Samba".

Having displayed a knack in the past for reinterpreting both pop and jazz tunes, jazz vocalist Diane Schuur once again succeeds in bringing together an unexpected mix of compositions on Schuur Fire. Featuring the Caribbean Jazz Project, the album finds Schuur's clarion vocals melding nicely with vibist Dave Samuels' superb Latin jazz ensemble – especially trumpeter Diego Urcola, who takes some tasty solos throughout.

Diane Schuur is that rare songbird who is equally competent as a jazz singer and a pops entertainer. While some vocalists go with more lucrative popular music and some take the road of the jazz artist in the pure sense, Schuur is able to straddle the two careers. Frank Sinatra and Nat "King" Cole had a superb grasp of the jazz idiom, but they made the decisive choice to become entertainers. By contrast, Chris Connor, Betty Carter, and Johnny Hartman all had shots at the klieglights and hit parade but took the route of the jazz scene…

This video is simply fantastic on all counts. Two time Grammy Award winner Diane Schuur joins the Count Basie Orchestra in a wonderful concert recorded at the Rainbow Room in New York in 1987. The legendary Jazz vocalist whose lovely and pristine voice ehoes that of Ella Fitzgerald sings 14 wonderful tunes from the Jazz era of the 1940's and sings each song with the expertise and finess of the seasoned professional that she is. The lady with the sultry and crystal clear voice has been blind since birth and overcame her handicap to become one of the leading voices in Jazz. This performance is excellent and is one that you will enjoy tremendously. I only wish the video was longer yet the selections that she performed were brilliant. The Count Basie Orchestra did an outstanding job in backing her up they're really a terrific orchestra. This is Diane Schuur at her finest and if you're a fan of this Jazz legend you cannot miss this incredible live performance. Just like the title of this review this performance from Ms.Schuur and the Count Basie Orchestra is a captivating hour of brilliance.