Dianne Reeves at the Lobero Theater in Santa Barbara
by jazzcat on Dec.10, 2007, under News
Dianne Reeves is a phenomenal singer and one extraordinary
human being. Her sound and soul originates from real human emotions,
experiences and the spirit within before blossoming into multi-octave vibrations
that penetrate, communicate and cognitively sync with ours. We are really one
people; one powerful energy that affects each other’s lives through wisdom and
story. Tonight’s concert at the Lobero Theater in Santa Barbara is special
because it is one of the first times performing with the new band and playing
songs that will soon appear on a brand new recording.
What new recording you might ask? Well, you will soon see
and hear in early 2008 when the project gets released on Blue Note records but
I can tell you with much confidence that you are going to thoroughly enjoy this
music and it will spark many good times in your memories. I have had the
wonderful privilege of personally being there in the mix to witness and be
apart of the rehearsal and recording process from its inception and when
talented musicians come together in an organic environment, each putting their
style and creative twist on the music, you know that “Today Will Be a Good
Day”!
With tonight’s performance as well as the entire recording
process, one thing I notice is that the common denominator amongst every
environment is good vibes, good food, integrity, respect and most of all a
relaxed sense of fun around the music. This is exactly what is expressed on
stage and why the audience downloads the same a jovial buzz to store on their
internal hard drives.
Earlier this year, Dianne went out and toured Europe with
just her and two guitars, Romero Lubambo and Russell Malone. The combination
can be intoxicatingly romantic and intimate or switch to the happiness of the
blues in a split second. The sound becomes so much bigger when you add the rest
of the rhythm and with cats like Reginald Veal and Greg Hutchinson providing
the funky bottom and time, the music can be light hearted, driving, rooted and
enriching!
The recording is even bigger than that! It will feature the
cats I just mentioned plus the playing of Billy Childs, George Duke, Geoff
Keezer, Ruben Rogers, Antonio Sanchez, Steve Wilson, some arrangements with
strings, children and even tunes done in other romantic languages! I know it is
a bit unfair not to mention the names of some of the songs performed but, many
of them will be on the new recording and I don’t want to spoil your fun!
The audience at the Lobero Theater generally skewed more
toward wisdom than youth but you would not know that from the screams and
applause for an encore. I was enlightened by the enthusiasm and had a new found
respect for a community that seems to thrive on the arts. At the end of the
performance, I went to help Myra sell Dianne’s CD’s from a small table at the
front of the hall. It was packed and so many people purchased the music and
when you look at them all together, Dianne has quite an arsenal of recordings.
One guy said, “ I will take one of everything”!
Click Image above for Live interview during recording session
After a full day wonderful of music, Dianne, Russell and I
traveled back to Los Angeles in the bliss of peace riding on the energy of
another successful, uplifting, soulful, spirit nurturing musical experience.
The record release concert performance will be at the Apollo Theater in Harlem
on Valentines Day in 2008; I suspect I will see you there!
LeRoy Downs
