Dianne Reeves (1956-) "Breathtaking virtuosity, improvisational prowess"

Dianne Reeves was born in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in Denver, Colorado. She grew up surrounded by music; her father was a singer, her mother played the trumpet, and her Uncle Charles (Charlie) Burrell played bass for the Denver Symphony Orchestra. Reeves began piano lessons as a child and sang at every opportunity that came her way. When Reeves was 11 years old, her interest in music was enriched by the renowned Bennie Williams, founder of Bennie L. Williams Spiritual Voices, who became her mentor and piano teacher. Uncle Charlie introduced Reeves to music icons such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday. She became enthralled with Vaughan’s voice and realized then she wanted to be a singer. Her interest and love for music intensified. 

At age 16, Reeves sang with the George Washington High School band in Denver and won first place at the Chicago at the National Association of Jazz Educators Convention. Reeves caught the attention of Clark Terry, former trumpeter for the Duke Ellington Orchestra, who became her mentor. Reeves eventually sang with his All-Star jazz band, and this association provided Reeves chances to sing with famous jazz legends Tommy Flanagan, Louis Bellson and Jimmy Rowles. 

Reeves studied music at the University of Colorado before moving to Los Angeles, California, in 1979, where she explored Latin American and other genres of music. Her singing career took off and more breaks surfaced. In 1982, Reeves began recording as a solo artist. In the 1980s, she toured with Harry Belafonte and Sergio Mendes, respectively; and in 1987 she was the first vocalist signed to the revived Blue Note label. To date, Reeves has recorded 16 albums, received five Grammy nominations and won two Grammys. She received her first Grammy award in 2001 for “In the Moment-Live in Concert” and, again in 2015 for Best Jazz Vocal Album, “Beautiful Life.”  Admirers of “Beautiful Life” say it demonstrates Reeves’s ability to blur lines between jazz, pop, Latin and R&B, marvelously well. 

Dianne Reeves is recognized as one of jazz’s pre-eminent vocalists. She is a skilled scat singer and superior interpreter of lyrics. On May 22, 2015, Reeves was recognized by the Juilliard School with an Honorary Doctor of Arts for her “breathtaking virtuosity, improvisational prowess, and unique jazz and R&B style.” 

Reeves regularly performs with symphonies and orchestras around the world. Her most recent performances in Colorado were May 5, 2016, at the Newman Center for Performing Arts; August 8, 2015, at Balistreri Vineyards and, again February 4, 2015, in Aspen at the Wheeler Opera House.     

Although Reeves travels and performs extensively, she resides in Denver. She returned to Denver from Los Angeles in 1992. 

Sources:

http://diannereeves.com

“Dianne Reeves: Meaning of Success” by Esteban L. Hernandez, Denver Urban Spectrum, November 2012, Volume 26, Number 8.

“Dianne Reeves, Denver jazz star, offer tasteful “Beatiful Life” by Bret Saunders, The Denver Post, January 9, 2014.