Long regarded as one of Contemporary Jazz’s leading vocalists, Diane Schuur is as eclectic as she is brilliant. Born in Tacoma, Washington in 1953, Schuur was blind from birth; but she was gifted with perfect pitch and initially taught herself piano by ear. She later received formal piano training at The Washington State School for the Blind, which she attended until she was 11 years of age.
Nicknamed “Deedles” as a child, she grew up surrounded by the world of Jazz embraced by both of her parents: Her father was an amateur pianist, and her mother kept a formidable collection of Duke Ellington and Dinah Washington albums in her home. Not surprisingly, Dinah Washington is often listed as Schuur’s major vocal influence, and she learned the iconic singer’s “What a Difference a Day Makes” while she was still a toddler. She also developed her own rich, resonant vocal style at a very young age.
With a distinguished recording career that spans three decades, including two Grammy awards (Timeless and Diane Schuur and The Count Basie Orchestra on GRP Records), as well as three additional GRAMMY® nominations, Schuur’s music has explored almost every corner of the 20th Century musical landscape.
Her musical collaborations include the aforementioned Count Basie Orchestra, Barry Manilow, B.B. King, Ray Charles, and Jose Feliciano, among countless others.
These collaborations have resulted in numerous #1 Billboard Chart recordings, including Pure Schuur and Heart to Heart with B.B. King; Ms. Schuur has appeared on PBS and many other television specials…as well as a very special visit to the beloved TV show, Sesame Street.
Diane has been invited to perform at The White House on multiple occasions, and was one of the select musical guests invited to perform for Stevie Wonder at the Kennedy Center Honors when he received his prestigious award. She continues to tour and perform extensively at major concert halls and venues around the world.
Ms. Schuur has recently recorded an homage to two of her very important mentors, Frank Sinatra and Stan Getz. The CD, entitled I Remember You (With Love To Stan and Frank) will be released on June 10, 2104, and will also commemorate her “official” discovery 35 years ago by Stan Getz at the 1979 Monterey Jazz Festival.
The recording features all new arrangements by Alan Broadbent, and in addition to Mr. Broadbent on piano, it includes an all-star band of Ben Wolfe, Ulysses Owens Jr., Romero Lubambo, Roni Ben-Hur, and Joel Frahm.
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