The internationally acclaimed four-time Grammy Award winning singer and doyenne of jazz, Dianne Reeves will perform in South Africa for the first time at the Teatro at Montecasino, Johannesburg for two concerts only on Thursday, 4 August and Friday, 5 August 2011 commencing at 20h00. Tickets now on sale at Computicket.
Born and raised in Denver Colorado, USA, Dianne Reeves is the only singer to have won “Best Jazz Vocal Performance” category for three consecutive album recordings namely In The Moment – Live in Concert (2001), The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan (2002) and A Little Moonlight (2003). This is a first in any Grammy Award category. In 2006 Ms Reeves received her fourth Grammy Award for the soundtrack of George Clooney’s “Good Night, and Good Luck”, the Academy Award nominated film (in which she also appeared) that chronicles Edward R. Murrow’s confrontation with Senator Joseph McCarthy.
Her virtuosity, vocal prowess and unique jazz and R&B styles has seen Dianne Reeves performing and recording with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. She has also recorded with Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim and was a featured soloist with Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic. Ms Reeves was the first Creative Chair for Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the first singer to ever perform at the famed Walt Disney Concert Hall.
At the beginning of this year, Ms Reeves performed at the White House State Dinner for the President of China, Hu Jintao. In April, Ms Reeve’s performance at the 120th Anniversary Gala of the Carnegie Hall was hailed by The Boston Globe newspaper as ‘breathtaking’. Hosted by and featuring James Taylor, the evening also included guests Barbara Cook, Steve Martin, Bette Midler, Sting and former president Bill Clinton. The New York Times said of Dianne’s performance: “Although Ms. Reeves performed only one number, the Billie Holiday lament, ‘Don’t Explain,’ it was a killer.”
During the remainder of this year, Ms Reeves will tour internationally with Sing The Truth!, a production honoring the music and spirit of great female artists. Dianne Reeves joins Angelique Kidjo and Lizz Wright in continuing the legacies of much-loved South African artist, the legendary Miriam Makeba, Abbey Lincoln, and Odetta, and performing songs by other great women in music ranging from Billie Holiday to Lauryn Hill, along with selections of their own original songs.
The Dianne Reeves concerts are promoted by local promoter, Sponono Entertainment who recently brought international Jazz musicians Dave Grusin and Lee Ritenour Teatro to South Africa at the end of last month for two highly successful performances. Other artists previously brought to this country by Sponono Entertainment include Gladys Knight, Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack.
From the White House and across the USA, to Canada and Europe, and soon for the first time on African soil, don’t miss the two Dianne Reeves concerts at the Teatro at Montecasino. Book now at Computicket by calling 0861 915 8000, visit www.computicket.com or visit your nearest Computicket outlet. For all Teatro group hospitality bookings contact Montecasino Hospitality & Corporate Events on 011 510 7905 or montecasino.hospitality@tsogosun.com
JOHANNESBURG
VENUE: The Teatro at Montcasino
DATES & TIMES: Thursday, 4 August 20h00 and Friday, 5 August 20h00
PRICES: R400.00, R450.00, R550.00, R650.00
BIOGRAPHY: DIANNE REEVES
DIANNE REEVES is the eminent jazz vocalist in the world today. As a result of her virtuosity, improvisational prowess and unique jazz and R&B stylings, Reeves received the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for three consecutive recordings—a Grammy first in any vocal category.
Reeves appeared in George Clooney’s “Good Night, and Good Luck,” the Academy Award nominated film that chronicles Edward R. Murrow’s confrontation with Senator Joseph McCarthy. The soundtrack recording of “Good Night, and Good Luck” provided Reeves her fourth Best Jazz Vocal Grammy in 2006.
Reeves has recorded and performed extensively with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. She has also recorded with Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim and was a featured soloist with Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic.
Reeves was the first Creative Chair for Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the first singer to ever perform at the famed Walt Disney Concert Hall. Reeves worked with legendary producer Arif Mardin (Norah Jones, Aretha Franklin) on the Grammy winning A Little Moonlight, an intimate collection of ten standards featuring her touring trio. When Reeves’ first holiday collection Christmas Time is Here was released in 2004, Ben Ratliff of The New York Times raved, “Ms. Reeves, a jazz singer of frequently astonishing skill, takes the assignment seriously; this is one of the best jazz Christmas CD’s I’ve heard.”
In 2007 Reeves was featured in an award-winning documentary on the all-too-brief life of Billy Strayhorn. Her first solo album in several years, When You Know, was released in 2008. Since then, she has been touring the world in a variety of contexts including “Sing the Truth,” a musical celebration of Nina Simone which also featured Liz Wright and Angelique Kidjo. Reeves began 2011 performing at the White House State Dinner for the President of China, Hu Jintao.
A new album is due later this year.
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