Biography
Dianne Elizabeth Reeves (born October 23, 1956) is an American jazz vocalist widely regarded as one of the pre-eminent jazz singers of her generation.[1][4][6] Born in Detroit, Michigan, she was raised in Denver, Colorado by her mother and extended family after her father died when she was two.[1] Her uncle Charles Burrell, a bassist with the Denver/Colorado Symphony, introduced her to jazz and to the recordings of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughan, planting the foundations of her musical identity.[1][3] Reeves began singing and playing piano as a teenager, joined her high-school big band, and was discovered at a National Association of Jazz Educators convention by trumpeter Clark Terry, who became a crucial mentor and early bandleader for her.[1][3][4]
After briefly studying classical voice and music at the University of Colorado, Reeves moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1970s, where she worked as a studio vocalist and immersed herself in Latin and fusion styles.[1][2][3][4] She recorded with artists such as Stanley Turrentine, Lenny White, and pianist Billy Childs (with whom she formed the band Night Flight and a lasting musical partnership), and performed with Caldera’s Eduardo del Barrio and her cousin, keyboardist and producer George Duke.[1][3][4] In 1981 she toured internationally with Brazilian bandleader Sergio Mendes, and from 1983 to 1986 she was the lead vocalist in Harry Belafonte’s band, experiences that deepened her engagement with Brazilian, Caribbean, and broader world-music rhythms.[1][2][3][4] Her debut album Welcome to My Love (1982) led to a landmark signing as the first vocalist on the reactivated Blue Note label in 1987; her self-titled album Dianne Reeves, featuring Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, and Tony Williams, was nominated for a Grammy and launched a series of acclaimed Blue Note releases through the 1990s, including I Remember, The Grand Encounter, The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan, and A Little Moonlight.[1][3][4]
Reeves’s musical style blends straight-ahead jazz with soul, R&B, and Latin influences, marked by remarkable vocal power, improvisational freedom, and sophisticated scat singing.[3][4][6][8] Critics have called her a logical successor to Dinah Washington and Carmen McRae, and compared her sound to singers such as Anita Baker and Patti Austin, while she has paid direct tribute to Sarah Vaughan on The Calling.[4] She became the first artist in any vocal category to win Grammys for Best Jazz Vocal Performance/Album for three consecutive recordings—In the Moment – Live in Concert, The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan, and A Little Moonlight—and added further Grammys for the soundtrack to George Clooney’s film Good Night, and Good Luck and for Beautiful Life in 2014.[2][4][5][6] Beyond her recordings, Reeves has appeared in major films, performed with ensembles such as the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic, served as the first Creative Chair for Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and in 2018 was named an NEA Jazz Master, underscoring her lasting legacy as one of modern jazz’s definitive vocal voices.[3][4][5][6]
Fun Facts
- Reeves was the first vocalist ever signed to the newly reactivated Blue Note Records in 1987, a historic move for the legendary jazz label.[3]
- She is the first artist in any vocal category to win Grammy Awards for three consecutive recordings—In the Moment – Live in Concert, The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan, and A Little Moonlight.[2][6]
- Reeves played the on-screen jazz singer in George Clooney’s 1950s-set film Good Night, and Good Luck and won a Grammy for the film’s soundtrack.[2][4]
- She was the first singer to perform at Los Angeles’s famed Walt Disney Concert Hall and also served as the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s inaugural Creative Chair for Jazz.[2][5]
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Charles Burrell - Maternal uncle and early musical mentor who introduced her to jazz and to the recordings of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughan while she was growing up in Denver. (Foundational influence on her listening and stylistic development rather than on specific albums.) [1960s–early 1970s (childhood and teens)]
- Clark Terry - Trumpeter who discovered her singing with her high-school band, encouraged her to pursue music, and featured her in his all-star groups early in her career. (Live performances and tours with Clark Terry’s ensembles after high school.) [Mid-1970s]
- Phil Moore - Vocal coach in Los Angeles who helped refine her technique and studio craft when she first moved there. (Studio vocal work and early sessions in Los Angeles; not tied to a specific issued album in sources.) [Late 1970s]
- Harry Belafonte - Band leader who hired her as lead vocalist, exposing her to West African, West Indian, and broader world-music traditions that influenced her later recordings. (International touring as lead singer in Harry Belafonte’s band.) [1983–1986]
Key Collaborators
- Billy Childs - Pianist, composer, and long-term collaborator; they co-produced her first recording, led the band Night Flight together, and continued to work on later projects. (Night Flight (band); co-production of her first 1982 recording; various recordings and performances in the 1990s.) [Early 1980s–1990s and beyond]
- Sergio Mendes - Brazilian bandleader with whom she toured internationally, deepening her engagement with Brazilian and Latin jazz. (World tours with Sergio Mendes’s group.) [Circa 1981–early 1980s]
- Wynton Marsalis & Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra - Extensive performance and recording relationship that showcased her in large-ensemble jazz settings; Marsalis has publicly praised her vocal power and accuracy. (Multiple concerts and recordings with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.) [1990s–2000s]
- Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Tony Williams - Featured all-star guests on her 1987 Blue Note debut, underscoring her entry into the top echelon of jazz recording. (Album Dianne Reeves (1987).) [1987]
- George Duke - Cousin, keyboardist, and producer who worked with her during her Los Angeles years and beyond. (Collaborations in Los Angeles and subsequent projects (specific album titles not detailed in the cited sources).) [Late 1970s–1980s]
- Caldera / Eduardo (Eddie) del Barrio - Latin fusion collaborators who helped her explore Brazilian and Latin-inflected jazz. (Performances and recordings with Caldera.) [Late 1970s–early 1980s]
- Los Angeles Philharmonic & Walt Disney Concert Hall projects - As the LA Phil’s first Creative Chair for Jazz and the first singer to perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall, she collaborated closely with the orchestra and its leadership. (Curated concerts and performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.) [Early 2000s]
- Berlin Philharmonic (Sir Simon Rattle) & Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Featured soloist with major orchestras, blending orchestral settings with jazz vocal performance. (Concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle and with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.) [2000s]
- Arif Mardin - Legendary producer who shaped the sound of her Grammy-winning album A Little Moonlight. (Production of A Little Moonlight (2003).) [Early 2000s]
Artists Influenced
- Contemporary jazz vocalists and students (general category) - Through her recordings, performances, and recognition as an NEA Jazz Master and multiple Grammy winner, Reeves is cited as a model of improvisational prowess, lyric interpretation, and stylistic versatility for newer generations of jazz singers, though specific named proteges are not identified in the cited sources. (Influence exerted broadly through albums such as The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan, A Little Moonlight, and Beautiful Life.) [1990s–present]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Dianne Reeves | 1987-01-01 | Album |
| Good Night, Good Luck | 2005-01-01 | Album |
| Never Too Far | 1990-01-01 | Album |
| My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke | 2014-01-01 | Album |
| When You Know | 2008-01-01 | Album |
| Beautiful Life | 2013-01-01 | Album |
| Milton + esperanza | 2024-08-09 | Album |
| A Little Moonlight | 2003-01-01 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Better Days (Dianne Reeves)
- Better Days
- Misty
- How Long (Never Too Far)
- At Last (At Last)
- One For My Baby (Good Night, Good Luck)
- Fine Brown Frame (At Last)
- Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) (When You Know)
- Darn That Dream (A Little Moonlight)
- Every Breath You Take (Minh)
External Links
Tags: #contemporary-jazz, #jazz, #jazz-and-blues
References
Heard on WWOZ
DIANNE REEVES has been played 3 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 15, 2025 | 18:06 | endangered speciesfrom art and survival | Jazz from Jax Breweryw/ Maryse Dejean | |
| Dec 11, 2025 | 12:33 | CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE | New Orleans Music Showw/ Michael Dominici | |
| Oct 20, 2025 | 18:07 | Tangofrom Beautiful Life | Jazz from Jax Breweryw/ Maryse Dejean |