Release : Diane Schuur - Live in London
Artist : Diane Schuur
Album : Live in London
Genre : Jazz
Source : CDDA
Label : GR2 Classics
URL :
Date : 2006-06-06
Encoder : LAME 3.90.3 / alt-preset standard
Quality : 195kbps 44100 kHz Joint Stereo
Tracks : 14
Time : 75:28 min
Size : 110.43
1 Deedles' Blues 5:09
2 I'll Close My Eyes 4:38
3 Close Enough for Love 4:17
4 As 6:48
5 Poinciana 5:34
6 Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight 4:07
7 You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To 4:14
8 When October Goes 5:37
9 Besame Mucho 6:57
10 The Very Thought of You 6:40
11 So in Love 7:03
12 It Don't Mean a Thing 6:51
13 Send Me Someone to Love 4:03
14 Over the Rainbow 3:30
Live in London, recorded at Ronnie ScottÆs, might reassert her potential in the
vocal pantheon. The disc is a fine example of Schuur the vocalist and pianist,
collaborating with a fine bandùbassist Scott Steed, guitarist Rod Fleeman and
drummer Reggie Jacksonùbefore an adoring (if subdued) audience. In many ways she
represents exactly what is missing from a lot of ôcontemporaryö jazzùshe knows
how to balance jazz technique and feeling with emotional accessibility.
Schuur is galvanizing on her two elaborate scat solos on the samba-flavored ôSo
in Loveö and a galloping ôIt DonÆt Mean a Thing.ö Fleeman soars on both tunes
and Jackson adds a hot, polyrhythmic solo to the latter. Though Schuur has
recorded with the Count Basie Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson's Big Bop Nouveau Band
and the Caribbean Jazz Project, she sounds most radiant in a streamlined
setting. On these wide-ranging pieces by Duke Ellington, Percy Mayfield, Cole
Porter, Steve Wonder and others, SchuurÆs clear tone, superb diction and
pitch-perfect piano scats illuminate the material with aplomb. The quartet is
also quite resourceful in establishing a variety of moods and maintaining
momentum over the course of the albumÆs 75 minutes.
The set features two anthems: a punchy version of the Morgan Ames-penned
ôDeedleÆs Blues,ö followed by a hushed performance of ôIÆll Close My Eyes,ö
which typifies her ballad style. SchuurÆs underrated piano playing proves a fine
percussive foil for Jackson on the Latin-tinged arrangements of ôAs,ö
ôPoincianaö and ôDonÆt Let Me Be Lonely Tonight,ö bundled together on the album.
Schuur's stirring version of ôBesame Muchoö re-creates the scintillating
arrangement from her Ferguson collaboration, SwinginÆ for Schuur, with seamless
harmonizing in the final bars. SchuurÆs melodic imagination and harmonic
eloquence complements her sleek voice-piano unison combinations and energetic
trades with Fleeman, though her scats do get repetitive. Strings and woodwinds
often crowd SchuurÆs recordings, but one of the more striking elements of this
live set is its spaciousness. The spare bass and voice opening of ôYouÆd Be So
Nice to Come Home Toö establishes a framework for Steed to stretch out and
fosters a warm, intimate vocal from Schuur.
A piano rendition of the ageless ôPlease Send Me Someone to Loveö and her
signature a capella ôOver the Rainbowö delicately conclude the album. Amidst the
ônu croonersö and singer-songwriter/folk-oriented types currently prevalent in
vocal jazz, Schuur probably seems old-fashioned. Regardless of trends, the
beautiful vocals, impressive range and tight musicianship on Live confirm that
Schuur matters. Ronnie ScottÆs has welcomed some of worldÆs finest vocal
talentsùcheck out Ella Fitzgerald and Nina SimoneÆs classic setsùand Live in
London places Schuur amongst them.
Enjoy...
Thx To Support Artists!
If You Like It ! Buy It ! :)
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