Customer Reviews

Bridges

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After more than a decade's worth of warm and organic jazz records that somehow seem perfect for an autumn day, how perfect that Dianne Reeves should appear on the cover of her latest record covered in leaves! And how wonderful that this far into her career she releases her most solid and satisfying work.

Reeves has never been known especially for turning other people's songs inside out (a la Cassandra Wilson), but her brilliant reworking of Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" gets things off to a beautiful start. The ballads "I Remember" and "Goodbye" are subtle and eloquent pop; certainly the sort of material that adult contemporary stations will play to death if they have the foresight to discover them. And her reading of Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne" is as haunting a performance as you are likely to hear.

Dianne shakes things up a little in the second half of the disc; "Testify" layers both sung and spoken words simultaneously over an African- and jazz-inspired groove; the result is nothing short of hypnotic. Then there is "Mista," a simply perfect mixture of hip-hop, blues, and Bonnie Raitt-ish instrumentation. This song is a unique and rewarding venture for Reeves and hopefully it won't be her last.

The only less-than-shining moment is Dianne's reading of Joni Mitchell's "River," which would sound a lot better if Holly Cole hadn't done a darker, more gorgeous version just a couple of years earlier. And while Dianne's album "Art and Survival" was a braver and riskier release, "Bridges" is an immaculately-produced, brilliantly-arranged, and gorgeously-sung outing. Any fan of her warm vocal style can't ask for much more.

Dianne has recorded several CDs that benchmark her growth as an artist. "I Remember" was such a benchmark. "Art and Surival" and "Quiet After The Storm" were too. But none of those stellar performances come close to her work on "Bridges."

This CD is beautifully produced, capturing the magic that has given her a reputation as an exceptional live performer. "Bridges" projects such warmth and confidence that certain songs take my breath away. With "I Remember", "Good-bye", "Bridges", and "Testify" I feel like she's my closest friend singing poems that were written for me. I guess this CD just sounds like home to me.

I am a longtime fan who has all of her CDs and has seen her in concert over a dozen times. Believe me, "Bridges" is Dianne's best work to date.

Dianne Reeves is, with little argument, one of the great jazz singers of our time. She often strays from pure jazz into more popular songs, much to the dismay of jazz critics. But, when she produces music like the performances on "Bridges", who cares. It's jazzy enough for me. With her voice and the musicians she employs, she could put the telephone directory to music and make it sound wonderful. If you like Dianne Reeves, this cd will not disappoint.

i find myself gushing about dianne reeves' music. her recordings are never a disappointment, and her live shows, as another amazon reviewer attested, are exhilirating and beautiful. dianne reeves is unusually gifted, and unusually generous, not only with her instrument, but with her emotions. in short, _bridges_ is a thing of beauty. i strongly disagree that "in your eyes" is a poor, "blocky" remake. frankly, i can't quite figure out what that criticism is supposed to mean. in any case, the first half of the cd has gotten me through many tough days. the cd bears repeated listenings for every little nuance of her voice and her extra-talented sextets. "testify" and "1863" aren't at the same olympian level as the rest of the album, but are still very listenable.

inhabiting a genre that is distinctly her own, dianne reeves has always seemed a synthesis of the best traits of artists from cassandra wilson to regina belle to tania maria. _bridges_ may well be the most polished expression of her unfathomable talent since _never too far_. the "bridges" metaphor is successfully carried throughout the album, either figuratively or literally, through songs like "suzanne", "bridges", "river" and "testify". a remake of peter gabriel's "in your eyes" respectfully translates the song for jazz enthusiasts. "i remember" is one of the album's hidden gems. though neither lyrically nor vocally groundbreaking, volumes of emotion are conveyed through its simlicity. reeves is a noble and fortunate artist, for producing the kind of music that pleases her (and others). this album is a wonderful follow-up to _that day_.

After laying my hands on this album, my whole life changed. I evolved from being a young boy to a mature responsible folk. From the lyrics to instruments it's amzing. I also like the fact that is a production of my man "George Duke". This album has the power to change your perspective!! When i'm listening to the album i feel like everybody is watching and they are witnessing evolution.

Bridges is what Dianne Reeves is all about.When you hear her voice you know you are there with her on the journey of a new day of self discovery.So Sweet The Journey.......When you learn to Love yourself ,accept yourself,forgive yourself, respect yourself,etc...... Each time she sings feel the spirit of all that you are.Thank you for a Love Supreme! This is what music is all about.

I can't get past playing "In Your Eyes." The arrangement of this song, coupled with Dianne's amazing vocals, is just - heck, I can't stop playing it. On those days that I manage to get past In Your Eyes, I remember how incredibly amazing the rest of this CD is. If Dianne never sings another song, let 'Suzanne' be the last one that comes out of her mouth. The lushness of River and Olokun just take you away to other worlds. Then Dianne jumps into the uptempo stylings of Testify, Mista, and 1863. Dianne finishes this disc with the calm and soothing Make Someone Happy. I'm telling you, in one word, this CD is truly Breathtaking.

This woman has a MIND and crafts a song with all her heart. That does it for me.

and create within us, at least, within me, new expectations for all vocalists, especially jazz singers. I love her daring covers-- Gabriel and Cohen and Mitchell-- and her BRILLIANTLY tight harmonies with her musicians, even on weaker tunes like "Testify" and "Mista"-- (Dianne, I love any opportunity to get advice from you...but could these be just a bit too didactic?). Much like "Art and Survival" I find "Bridges" bearing some unbelievable jems and some true yawners. But I'd listen to DR's yawners any day-- as they make most singers' best look like mere childs' play.