Screen Shot 2015-02-15 at 8.26.32 PM

by: Magda Katz

 

Diane Schuur warmed up Valentine’s Day weekend WITH LOVE FROM DEEDS AND DIVA at New York City’s legendary Iridium jazz club – a very special three-night engagement where two-time Grammy winning legendary jazz vocalist Diane Schuur took to the stage with New York’s own magnetic tour-de-force Diva Jazz Orchestra, led by the extraordinary talented drummer Dr. Sherrie Maricle.

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.

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 most recent critically acclaimed recording is 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) released last year at this time, commemorated her “official” discovery 35 years ago by Stan Getz at the 1979 Monterey Jazz Festival.

Video/Photo: Magda Katz