Good Night & Good Luck [Import]

Diane Reeves (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 28, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• ASIN: B000ECY4DS
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #781,208 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great album introducing a new generation to music of the '50s and '60s., December 30, 2007

By 

Mary Whipple (New England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Good Night & Good Luck (Audio CD)

The inspired collaboration of jazz singer Dianne Reeves and saxophonist/arranger/director Matt Catingub results in a CD which epitomizes much of the cabaret music of the '50s and '60s. Reeves's full, rich alto is set off to perfection here by Catingub's sax, the timbre of her voice matching that of his tenor sax. Her ability to express the emotion of the lyrics while maintaining total control of her magnificent voice parallels that of some of the greats of the period--Sarah Vaughan, Helen Merrill, Chris Connor--while her background in modern jazz gives a fresh sound to these songs from a generation ago.

The arrangements of Honolulu-born Catingub are so true to the period that they sound as if they could have been written for Mel Torme, Sinatra, or any of cabaret's best "girl singers." Son of jazz legend Mavis Rivers, for whom he did the arrangements late in her career, Catingub knows the '50s and '60s inside out--the sultry rhythms and funky beats, the soft romanticism of the ballads, and the importance of voice and instruments creating a single mood. Here, with his sax contributions, the wonderfully subtle piano of Peter Martin, the bass of Robert Hurst, and the drums of Jeff Hamilton accompanying Dianne Reeves, no additional instrumentation is needed.

Most of the songs are gorgeous ballads, often with strong, vampy beats, including "Straighten Up," "I've Got My Eyes on You," "Gotta Be This or That," "Pretend," "In My Solitude," and "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall," all songs familiar to lovers of music of the period. Less familiar (and my favorite on the album) is "Who's Minding the Store?" a moody, melancholy ballad in a minor key, with the piano and sax helping to create the mood. Peggy Lee's "There'll be Another Spring" may be the prettiest song on the CD, and "When I Fall in Love" is the only instrumental. Dinah Washington's novelty song "TV is the Thing This Year," is rock/jive, and "Too Close for Comfort" and "You're Driving Me Crazy," pick up the tempo and beat.

A fantastic collaboration which gives new life to song standards that are forty to fifty years old, this CD introduces new audiences to music from the '50s and '60s and to the voice of Dianne Reeves. Those who have enjoyed this CD will hear an equally brilliant (but different-sounding) Dianne on "A Little Moonlight," "In the Moment: Live in Concert," and "The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan," all of which have won Grammy Awards for Reeves. Mary Whipple

Christmas Time Is Here
When You Know

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the finest jazz combo vocal records ever recorded, October 16, 2009

By 

L. Topper - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Good Night & Good Luck (Audio CD)

The album screams nostalgia for an earlier time. It reminds me of some of Sarah Vaughan's greatest recordings. The arrangements are simple and sexy allowing the singer to shine. Diane Reeves shines in this kind of jazz singing. It feels like you are in a nightclub in an intimate acoustic.

I cannot say enough good things about this record. I listen to it all of the time. I love Diane Krall, but Krall simply was not born with a voice of such beauty and virtuosity that is the epitome of the sexy jazz singers from the 1950's. Reeves still has the ability to make her voice do anything she wants. Her tone and breath control are as good as they will ever be, but she has life experience and exquisite taste. I could write until my fingers fall off.

The arrangements are done with piano, bass, drums and tenor sax. What more can you ask for? Buy it before it goes out of print.