Dianne Reeves: Reflections + Show Review – Ronnie Scott’s, London, 2026
There are many recording artists and performers I have known, literally, for decades as a result of my 34-year odyssey writing about soul music and related genres in America. Seeing the superb Dianne Reeves in the intimate setting of Ronnie Scott’s (the premier jazz club in London and indeed, the UK) accompanied only by the masterful guitarist Rubero Lubambo, I was reminded of just how long Dianne has been a musical fixture in my world.
In 1987, Dianne’s self-titled first major label album was released on Blue Note: I recall that the single, “Better Days” was the focus of promotion for the LP and I have a memory of seeing Dianne perform on a show at what was then called the Universal Amphitheatre. Whether or not we actually did an interview for one of the publications I wrote for at the time, I don’t remember: what stays in my mind is the audience response to the song echoed mine. It had a ring of autobiographical authenticity about it which was not surprising given Dianne had co-written it as an ode of appreciation for the wisdom her grandmother had imparted.
Subsequently, I conducted interviews with Dianne in 1991, most memorably in 1994 and 1995. Of particular note was extensive conversation we had in ’94 about her EMI album, Art & Survival: I was assigned the opportunity to write the record company bio for the record; it was clearly a very personal – and in her own words, ‘milestone’ – recording for Dianne.
In the published Blues & Soul interview, I concluded with the following statement: “Art & Survival is an unqualified masterpiece…it is refreshing, fresh air for those of us who still cling to the notion that the art, sensitivity and honesty in music that are still alive. Thanks, of course, to brave souls, a musical poet and truth-seeker, committed to touching lives with her gift…”
We followed up with a 1995 conversation about the follow-up set, aptly titled Quiet After The Storm, the ‘storm’ a reference to the boldness of Art & Survival and the subsequent lack of attention that the LP received from the record company. Dianne reflected that she did consider making the album her final recording in the wake of the radio and sales reaction to it; however, switching from EMI to Blue Note provided a new pathway and she continued recording for the label until 2008, garnering three of the five Grammy Awards she’s won since 2000.
The first of those Grammys was for the brilliant In The Moment – Live In Concert, memorably recorded live at SIR Studios in Los Angeles on January 20th and 21st, 2000 in front of invited audience, produced by her cousin, the late George Duke (who had been the primary producer on many of Dianne’s albums).
I was most fortunate to attend: the experience of Dianne’s spellbinding improvisational dexterity and her astute choice of repertoire (from ‘Afro Blue’ through to Cole Porter’s ‘Love For Sale’ and on to original tunes, ‘The First Five Chapters’ and ‘The Best Times’) was ‘spot on.’
Mention of that live album seems a perfect segue into my experience of seeing Dianne with longtime musical associate Rubero Lubambo at Ronnie Scott’s a few months ago. Of particular recall through a show that received a much-deserved standing ovation were the songs, ‘Nine’ (a wonderful slice of autobiography), the standard ‘Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars (Corcovado),” “Peace Is For Everyone,” “You Will Know” and the beautiful, “You Taught My Heart To Sing.”
Dianne’s performance was simply sublime: she has an extraordinarily captivating presence and as she shared with me when we spoke after the show, she finds herself joyfully in a place where she can choose when and where she performs at this juncture in her illustrious career. Advice to all real music lovers: make sure you check out Dianne whenever she’s in your ‘neighbourhood’! You won’t be disappointed.
(Photo credits: Monika S Jakubowska; courtesy Baxter PR)
IN THE MOMENT – LIVE IN CONCERT (US LINK)
