Diane Schuur & Basie, Count Orch [Import]

Diane Schuur | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 1, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal Japan
• ASIN: B0000CD7YU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #752,312 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Deedles' Blues

2. Caught a Touch of Your Love

3. Travelin' Light

4. I Just Found out About Love

5. Travelin' Blues

6. I Loves You, Porgy

7. You Can Have It

8. Only You

9. Everyday

10. We'll Be Together Again

11. Until I Met You

12. Climbing Higher Mountains

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great vocalist matched with a great jazz orchestra, April 18, 2002

By 

Bruce Hodges (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Diane Schuur & Count Basie Orchestra (Audio CD)

This was one of Diane Schuur's first recordings and is still one of my favorites. It displays the phenomenal agility of her voice in ways that some of her subsequent recordings have not. She has a powerful, brassy instrument - so much so that some of my friends don't care for her, saying she sounds like she's screaming. (I disagree. If this is screaming, then please get right up close to my ear and do so.)

My favorite track is, without a doubt, "You Can Have It," a feverishly catchy tune written for Ms. Schuur, presumably to show off what she can do. It certainly succeeds. By the end of the song both she and the band are in jazz heaven, with Schuur scat-singing effortlessly, and then pulling out all the stops as her astonishing voice climbs a series of ascending scales. The arrangement, like all the others on the disc, is as classy a big-band sound as you will find anywhere. Other highlights are "I Just Found Out About Love" with its brassy syncopations, and a gorgeous rendition of Gershwin's "I Loves You, Porgy" that again, shows off her spectacular range and crystal-clear tone.

The program is an engaging mix of upbeat and ballads; just when you think you're exhausted by all the virtuosity, a quietly smoky number like "Only You" calms things down somewhat (but only somewhat). The energy level overall is very high, with Ms. Schuur and these incredible musicians all in top form, led by the magnificent Frank Foster. The disc was recorded live which only adds to the excitement.

Since this disc came out in 1987, Ms. Schuur has continued to produce some outstanding work, such as her stunning recent release with Maynard Ferguson. This recording, however, is a classic and cannot be recommended highly enough.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reinstilled my faith in live recordings, February 13, 2003

By 

James Fenos "music freak" (Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Diane Schuur & Count Basie Orchestra (Audio CD)

This album, released in 1987, was recorded in front of a live audience. Live recordings can sound harsh and the song selection is usually repeats of previous studio album and single cuts. This album is a collection of well recorded and performed songs not before, or since, recorded by Diane. There is an amazing energy throughout this entire cd. The audience sounds as if they were having the time of their lives, and you wish you were there. A favorite track for me is "Caught A Touch Of Your Love." Diane's vocals on this cut, and the Orchestra anticipating her delivery without competing with her makes it seem they've been together for years. This album is unusual due to the planning, it's more like a recording session in front of an audience as opposed to a concert recording. If concerts were this well planned out and recorded, I'd have a few more live recordings.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This CD began my love affair with jazz, July 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Diane Schuur & Count Basie Orchestra (Audio CD)

Ms Schuur's vocal range is astounding. There are few singers who could so dominate a session with the Count Basie Orchestra. I also loved "Deedles" and "Timeless". It is easy to see the influence Dinah Washington had on Ms Schuur. While some have complained that there is too much pop influence some of her recording, this CD is flat-out high impact jazz, it still sends shivers down my spine. If you buy just one CD by Diane Schuur make it this one, but why stop when she has so much to offer.