Houston, TX, November 9, 2009 – Da Camera of Houston presents 4-time Grammy winning jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves: Christmas Time Is Here on Friday, December 4, 2009 at 8:00 PM at The Cullen Theater, Wortham Center. Reeves performs music from her newest recording When You Know and from her beloved recording Christmas Time Is Here, which includes her renditions of Carol of the Bells, Let it Snow, Little Drummer Boy, I'll Be Home for Christmas and other holiday favorites. She is joined by Peter Martin, piano; Romero Lubambo, guitar; Reginald Veal, bass and Gregory Hutchinson, drums.
Dianne Reeves recently told Da Camera: “My art comes from my life experience. The things I see, the things I dream about, the things I would like to be made real. The sound of the voice is one thing. And then there’s what comes from the inside, the sound of the soul.”
Dianne Reeves is perhaps the pre-eminent jazz vocalist in the world today. As a result of her virtuosity and improvisational prowess, Reeves was awarded the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for three consecutive recordings—a Grammy first in any vocal category. Reeves appeared and performed in the film Good Night, and Good Luck, the soundtrack to which she was awarded her fourth Best Jazz Vocal Album Grammy Award. Her most recent recording is When You Know, a collection of love songs whose perspective on love ranges from youthful innocence to enlightened maturity.
Dianne Reeves’ singing draws upon a world of influences; she is tied to a powerful storytelling instinct and her virtuosity and improvisational gifts are singularly breathtaking. In 1987, Reeves was the first vocalist signed to the reactivated Blue Note/EMI label. As a result of her unique R&B and jazz stylings, Reeves has since captured a huge following and tremendous critical acclaim throughout the world. Reeves has recorded with Daniel Barenboim and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and was the featured soloist in a recent performance with Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic. She has also recorded and performed extensively with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.
Dianne Reeves was the first Creative Chair for Jazz at the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In this role Reeves had overseen the scheduling of jazz programming and educational workshops at both the Hollywood Bowl and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. An Ella Fitzgerald Award recipient, Reeves performed at the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City and appeared and sang on a season-ending episode of Sex and the City. She was the first singer to ever perform at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
Da Camera’s Jazz Series continues on February 6, 2010 with Ben Allison and Man Size Safe and on March 20 with Houston native Brandon Lee, trumpet. The series comes to a close with bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding on April 24.
Tickets for Dianne Reeves: Christmas Time is Here are $40, $50 and $60 and available by contacting Da Camera, 1427 Branard, at 713-524-5050 or online at www.dacamera.com. Tickets for students, teachers and senior citizens are always half-price.
Da Camera of Houston’s concerts feature small ensembles performing chamber music, jazz, early music and contemporary music. A vital institution in the world of chamber music, Da Camera is a source of innovative programming, notably Artistic Director Sarah Rothenberg’s programs connecting chamber music with literature and the visual arts. Da Camera is nationally acclaimed for provocative chamber music programming, as well as a jazz series with a unique balance between renowned performers and emerging artists.
