Diane Schuur

Diane Schuur?s interpretative powers and her legendary three- and-a-half octave vocal range have earned her the title of ?the new First Lady of jazz,? five GRAMMY? nominations, two GRAMMY awards, and acclaim from critics worldwide, including the late Leonard Feather. The venerable father of contemporary jazz criticism lauded Schuur most for her adaptability and versatility. Indeed, the feisty and spirited vocalist is always ready for a new jazz journey. On her new release, Schuur Fire (Concord Picante, CCD-2264-2), she takes us on a trip south of the border and helps Concord Picante celebrate its 25th anniversary with twelve memorable tracks given a fresh spin with passionate and infectious Latin rhythms.

In addition to Duran Duran, Schuur Fire features tunes made popular by Frank Sinatra (?More Than You Know?) and Ray Charles (I Can't Stop Loving You), as well as hits by James Taylor (Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight) and Stevie Wonder (?As?). ?I?ve always wanted to do ?As;? it?s one of my favorite tunes,? enthuses Schuur. ?It says a lot about the constancy of love in peoples? lives, and some very universal insights about our planet, the sun, the earth. It?s beautiful.?

On the CD, three tunes more associated with the Latin world are dusted off and revitalized with Castro-Neves fine arrangements and Schuur?s distinctive interpretations. ?I?ve always loved ?Poinciana? as an instrumental tune, and it hadn?t been done much with vocals, except by Manhattan Transfer,? says Schuur, whose lush vocals soar over the Caribbean Jazz Project?s percolating rhythms. The aching quality of her lovely rendition of Ivan Lins? ?Confessions??with new lyrics written expressly for Schuur by Brenda Russell?provides a touching counterpoint to Castro-Neves? poignant interludes on classical guitar. ?Yellow Days,? a Mexican song, provides an equally tender showcase for Schuur?s mastery of fullness juxtaposed with simplicity?her voice cascades over and around notable solos by both Samuels and Diego Urcola (featured throughout the disc on both trumpet and fluegelhorn). Other CJP band members include Dario Eskenazi (piano), Oscar Stagnaro (bass), Mark Walker (drums) and Roberto Quintero (congas, percussion).

Schuur and the Caribbean Jazz Project make a lively entreaty out of ?Lover Come Back to Me,? one of several tunes suggested by Castro-Neves. ?It was a lot of fun,? she says. ?I did it as an up tempo ballad to really stretch the lyrics out. And, with the pulse of the band underneath, not to mention a great percussive stretch in the middle, the meaning of the words really comes through.? ?Close Enough for Love,? by Johnny Mandel and Paul Williams is also transformed into an up beat, yet still very romantic, ballad. And, Schuur confesses, recording a Latin-influenced version of ?So In Love? is very fresh, unexpected, in the capable hands of the CJP. ?I?ve wanted to do this tune for a long time as I?ve loved it ever since I was a kid,? she says. ? Michel Legrand did a beautiful album of Cole Porter stuff, and I just started crying when I heard it. It?s quite different on this recording, pretty intense.?

?Look Around? and five other tunes feature Castro-Neves on Brazilian classical guitar, a reprise of his ten-year tenure with Mendes and Brasil 66. Britt Robson of the Star Tribune once wrote of this forefather of the Bossa Nova movement: ?It was apparent that guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves was a collaborative catalyst, who expertly shaded the tone and spurred the creativity of everyone around him.? The same can definitely be said of his role as producer/arranger on Schuur Fire.

?This was one of the most interesting, fun, creative projects I?ve ever done; it was simply very special, really close to my heart,? says Schuur. ?It was really exciting to work with Oscar and the Caribbean Jazz Project. Everyone just had a blast.? The fun doesn?t stop with the release of Schuur Fire. Diane and the CJP, led by Samuels, take to the road in 2005 to bring their fiery Latin rhythms to audiences across the United States, who will no doubt agree that this is one incredible first-class musical journey.