Dianne Reeves - The Calling

Dianne Reeves’ primary gift is an extraordinary rich voice, but in addition to that she has a clarity and uniqueness of interpretation that makes her one of the most distinctive singers of our times. All these gifts are evident in abundance in The Calling, her tribute to Sarah Vaughan.

She saunters through the opening bars of Lullaby of Birdland as though it’s a childhood haunt she never forgot and carries on right through the album. Scatting, wailing and moaning like Sarah herself, she sings her way competently and near effortlessly through Send in the Clowns (she actually makes this sound distinguished and I don’t usually like this song!), Speak Low, Obsession, If You Could See Me Now, Key Largo, I Hadn’t Anyone ‘Til You and Embraceable You, all with a live band it turns out. Dianne’s renditions tenderly evoke Sarah, but they are still hers entirely. She handles the tempo and pitch changes in Fascinating Rhythm nonchalantly, and when she sings her own I Remember Sarah (which I later found she freestyled!), she leaves you in no doubt that Dianne Reeves is an entity of her own.

This is a tribute album in the best sense of the word; where the artist pays tribute to the quirks of Sarah Vaughan – recording live, scatting and freestyling – but doesn’t try to become her. Working with experienced musicians such as George Duke and Billy Childs, the result is a fabulous Dianne Reeves album that pays due respect to “The Divine One” – Sarah Vaughan.

Taken from: www.x-bout.com/jazz