Track Listing

1. Loads of Love
2. I Concentrate on You
3. Reflections
4. Skylark
5. What a Little Moonlight Can Do
6. Darn That Dream
7. I'm All Smiles
8. Lullaby of Broadway
9. You Go to My Head
10. We'll Be Together Again

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31925 in Music
• Released on: 2003-08-19
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Album Description
Following her Grammy-winning orchestral album The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan, jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves wished to return to a simpler, all-acoustic setting. So in December 2002, Reeves entered Right Track studios in New York City with legendary producer Arif Mardin (Aretha Franklin, Norah Jones) to record A Little Moonlight, an intimate collection of ten tunes featuring her touring trio: pianist Peter Martin, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Greg Hutchinson.

"Most of the songs are about the moment you're ready to fall in love, and the record features one of my loves, my trio-up-close and personal," says Reeves. "I've had great groups over the years, but there is really something special playing with Peter, Reuben and Greg. We've worked together for so long that sometimes all it takes is a look to make the music come alive-and this record captures the magic between us." Besides the inspired trio, the album also features appearances by trumpeter Nicholas Payton and guitarist Romero Lubambo.

Amazon.com
It's a match made in musical heaven: Dianne Reeves, the cool and collected contralto, and Arif Mardin, the esteemed producer behind the success of Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, and Norah Jones. Backed by a young and hungry rhythm section featuring drummer Greg Hutchinson, bassist Reuben Rogers, and pianist Peter Martin, Reeves finds herself in a straight-ahead setting where she can show off her jazz chops without compromising to pop-oriented concepts and expectations. The result is a recording of unadulterated and honest jazz in the classic sense. Her skillful blending of the best of Sarah Vaughan and Betty Carter is evident on Richard Rodger's "Loads of Love." The Brazilian guitarist Romero Lubambo adds Joe Pass strains to Cole Porter's "I Concentrate on You," while trumpeter Nichlolas Payton lend his mellow tones to Reeve's heartfelt rendition of "You Go to My Head." --Eugene Holley, Jr.

Customer Reviews

A ravishing set
Dianne Reeves, in recent releases, has opted for more of a pop-oriented production than for her early hallmark jazzy style. Here, in "A Little Moonlight," Ms. Reeves returns, thankfully, to what she does best...jazz vocals. Even more rewarding is the fact that she is backed by a young, acoustic trio that is impeccable in its playing.

Ms. Reeves mixes Rogers, Porter, and songs by other noted writers with non-standard fare. The result, thanks to the artistry of Reeves and her band, is a rewarding and varied set that includes a cocky rendition of "Loads of Love," a sentimental "What a Little Moonlight Can Do," to the every hopeful, "We'll Be Together Again."

The surprise (and somewhat out of place) song here is "Lullaby of Broadway," which, if there is to be a "hit" from this set, will get most playing time. This is both good and bad. On the one hand, this is the most whistleable song here and is the most pop-oriented. It is easy, with this song, to sink in the sugary quicksands of sentimentality. Thankfully, Ms. Reeves keeps her balance and provides a fine slightly jazzy rendition, which benefits greatly from the guest appearance of guitarist Romero Lubambo.

The remainder bears the mark of producer Arif Mardin... this is a good thing, in my opinion, as it provides a cohension and musicality that is engrossing. Ms. Reeves is presented here, not as a singer backed by a fine band, but as an instrument in her own right. A fine release.

Pristine Reeves
The pop confections of Ms. Reeves previous releases are eclipsed by this ravishing set. "Let those with ears hear" fittingly describes her approach on this date. Upon repeated listening even the most musically obtuse will acquire a finer and more discerning taste for a beautiful song well performed. Listen to her take on Monk's "Reflections" and one hears a nearly sacramental wisdom drawn out of Jon Hendricks lyric. Or listen again to "You Go To My Head" and her sensitive reading will disclose a measure of erotic longing so cooly measured that by a strange alchemy yearning mutates to consummation. Nicholas Payton's brief turn savors each note with warm luxuriant savoir faire.

"We'll Be Together Again", with snapping but relaxed swing, creates a sense of musical performance transcendently attuned to the miracle of collective improvisation. The accompaniment of Reeves fellows is taut, electric and clean in the old sense of that word that one may remember from about 1955 in most northern urban areas. But on "Together Again" Ruben Rogers' bass is worth isolating for its supranatural rhythmic flare. Had I the time "I could write a book" about the songs to be sung in the sequel to this career making release.

Here one may honestly say of Ms. Reeves that she has arrived to sit at that table only few singers may share. Holiday, Vaughan, Fitzgerald, Washington and Carter are Olympian. Their number cannot be swelled by pretense or tribute. In words so deliciously and artfully sung by Ms. Reeves, "thank God, she's a woman who knows."

A Lil Moonlight Shines
Dianne Reeves has a gift for being able to take a tune and make her own without being overbearing or understated. Of course that's difference between a good singer and a great one. In my opinion, Miss Reeves is the latter. Having said that, I am mesmerized by the freshness she brings to this collection of songs. Reeves really sells the lyrics here without showing off or giving in to vocal acrobatics. From her spirited rendition of loads of love to her hauntingly beautiful cry on We'll Be Together Again Miss Reeves simply shines. If this years grammy voters put talent before commericial clout, Reeves should have a shining moment at the grammys.