Dianne Reeves is an American jazz singer from Detroit, born in 1956 and raised in Denver, Colorado. She is known for vocal jazz, contemporary jazz, jazz and soul jazz, and is widely associated with live performance as much as with her recordings.

Background

Reeves comes from a musical family. Her father was a singer and died when she was two, and her mother, Vada Swanson, plays trumpet. Her cousin George Duke is a pianist, keyboard player and producer. Reeves and her sister Sharon are raised by their grandmother in Denver.

As a child she takes piano lessons and sings whenever she can. At 11, an inspiring teacher encourages her interest in music and helps confirm that she wants to sing. Her uncle Charles Burell, a bass player with the Denver Symphony Orchestra, introduces her to jazz singers including Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, and she is especially drawn to Sarah Vaughan.

Early career

By 16, Reeves is singing in a high school big band at George Washington High School in Denver. The band wins first place at a music festival connected to the National Association of Jazz Educators, where she meets trumpeter Clark Terry, who becomes her mentor.

In 1975 she studies music at the University of Denver, then moves to Los Angeles in 1976. There her interest in Latin American music grows, and she experiments with different vocal styles before deciding to pursue singing as a career.

Work as a performer and recording artist

In Los Angeles, Reeves works with Eduardo del Barrio, touring with his group Caldera, and also sings in Billy Childs' jazz band Night Flights. She later tours with Sergio Mendes. From 1983 to 1986 she tours with Harry Belafonte as a lead singer, gaining further experience in world music.

In 1987 she becomes the first vocalist to sign with Blue Note Records. Her albums include Welcome to My Love, Better Days, I Remember, Never Too Far, Art & Survival, Quiet After the Storm, The Grand Encounter, Palo Alto Sessions, That Day, New Morning, Bridges..., In the Moment, The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan, A Little Moonlight, Christmas Time Is Here and Good Night, and Good Luck.

Bridges... is produced by George Duke, and In the Moment and New Morning are live recordings. The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan reflects her admiration for Vaughan.

Awards and recognition

Reeves wins three Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, for In the Moment, The Calling and A Little Moonlight. She also wins for Good Night, and Good Luck. She is the only singer to win this Grammy in three consecutive years.

Along with Dee Dee Bridgewater, Diana Krall and Cassandra Wilson, she is regarded as one of the leading female jazz singers of her era.

Notable appearances

Reeves sings at the closing ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. She lives in Denver, Colorado.