DIANNE REEVES - Beautiful Life (2013) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Throughout her career, Dianne Reeves has, perhaps more than any other vocalist, blurred the line that separates jazz from pop and contemporary R&B, extending the boundaries of each. Beautiful Life is her first recording in five years and her debut for Concord. Carefully produced by Terri Lynne Carrington, the musical cast includes Robert Glasper, Esperanza Spalding, Reginald Veal, Sheila E., Sean Jones, , Gregory Porter, Gerald Clayton, Richard Bona, Lalah Hathaway, and her late cousin George Duke. The opener is a thoroughly inventive Carrington arrangement of Marvin Gaye's "I Want You," which underscores the gossamer quality in Reeves' voice and jazz phrasing, sacrificing none of the original's seductive soul -- it's as much of the spirit as it is of the flesh -- and features a fine trumpet solo by Jones. A brilliant reading of Stevie Nicks' "Dreams" is introduced by Terreon Gully's tight, woody rimshots and Glasper's gospel piano and ethereal keyboards. Reeves subtly draws on her gospel roots in the lyric amid skittering breaks and beats. Nadia Washington's lithe backing vocal floats amid the atmospheric textures before Reeves carries it out with Afro-Latin scatting. Carrington's "Satiated (Been Waiting)" is a sensual, sultry duet with Porter. Colored by horns, piano, electric guitar, and Duke's subtle keyboard treatments, its singers wed the gospel of Ray Charles and the blues of Nina Simone to jazz. Bob Marley's "Waiting in Vain" is introduced by a glistening synth before Glasper's piano, and Romero Lubambo's nylon-string frame the melody. Reggae, bossa, and even a languid mambo wind through as Hathaway soars in the background, supporting the ache in Reeves' delivery of longing and affirmation with Afro-Caribbean scatting in the bridge. It's followed by a groove-laden funk redo of Ani DiFranco's "32 Flavors," with backing vocals by Carrington and Washington; Jones' layered trumpets pop amid wah-wah guitars and keyboards. It's sexy as hell. Spalding's "Wild Rose" is airy, jazzy R&B highlighting Reeves' trademark gift for syncopated phrasing. A thorough reconstruction of Harold Arlen's "Stormy Weather" teams Reeves' steamy contralto and effortless falsetto with Tineke Postma's soprano saxophone and Peter Martin's glistening piano arpeggios. Soul and contemporary pop and jazz are threaded through the original melody, underscoring its reputation as a "standard." Reeves' own "Tango," with Raul Midon, commences as one, but her wordless vocal improvisation and the simmering percussion are derived from Afro-Cuban sources. As a result, the tune mutates first into rhumba and then a furious salsa, with the singer soaring above the erupting rhythmic fury. Closer "Long Road Ahead" -- an original -- seamlessly combines neo-soul, jazz, and gospel. The unwavering conviction in Reeves' voice is gracefully and elegantly complemented by Gregoire Maret's harmonica. Beautiful Life is Reeves' finest record to date. It not only blurs genre lines but erases them. The end result is glorious, accessible R&B drenched contemporary jazz that is as sophisticated as it is honest. by Thom Jurek
Tracklist :
1    I Want You 7:57
Backing Vocals – Nadia Washington
Bass – Reginald Veal
Drums – Terreon Gully
Featuring, Trumpet – Sean Jones
Guitar – Marvin Sewell
Guitar [Additional] – Dwight Sills
Keyboards – George Duke
Percussion – Munyungo Jackson
Piano – Gerald Clayton
Programmed By, Arranged By – Terri Lyne Carrington
Vocals – Dianne Reeves
Written-By – Arthur Ross, Leon Ware
2    Feels So Good (Lifted) 4:25
Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals, Featuring – Nadia Washington
Bass – Christian St. Louis
Drums – Terreon Gully
Featuring, Synthesizer, Soloist – George Duke
Keyboards – Bobby Sparks
Percussion – Terri Lyne Carrington
Piano – Gerald Clayton
Vocals – Dianne Reeves
Written-By – Dianne Reeves, Nadia Washington, Terri Lyne Carrington
3    Dreams 5:19
Backing Vocals – Nadia Washington
Bass – James Genus
Drums – Terreon Gully
Featuring, Piano, Keyboards, Arranged By – Robert Glasper
Guitar – Marvin Sewell
Keyboards [Additional] – Cédric Hanriot
Programmed By – Terri Lyne Carrington
Vocals – Dianne Reeves
Written-By – Stevie Nicks
4    Satiated (Been Waiting) 5:38
Alto Saxophone – Tia Fuller
Bass – James Genus
Drums – Terreon Gully
Featuring, Vocals – Gregory Porter
Guitar – Marvin Sewell
Guitar [Additional] – Carl Burnett
Keyboards – George Duke
Organ – Shedrick Mitchell
Piano – Gerald Clayton
Trumpet – Sean Jones
Vocals – Dianne Reeves
Written-By – Terri Lyne Carrington
5    Waiting In Vain 6:35
Acoustic Guitar, Arranged By – Romero Lubambo
Backing Vocals – Nadia Washington
Bass – Richard Bona
Drums – Terreon Gully
Featuring, Vocals, Arranged By [Vocals] – Lalah Hathaway
Keyboards – Cédric Hanriot
Piano – Peter Martin
Vocals – Dianne Reeves
Written-By – Bob Marley
6    32 Flavors 5:26
Backing Vocals – Nadia Washington
Backing Vocals, Arranged By – Terri Lyne Carrington
Bass – James Genus
Drums – Terreon Gully
Guitar – Marvin Sewell
Keyboards – Gerald Clayton
Organ – Shedrick Mitchell
Percussion – Sean Jones
Piano, Arranged By – Ray Angry
Programmed By – Charles Overton
Trumpet – Tia Fuller
Vocals – Dianne Reeves
Written-By – Ani DiFranco
7    Cold 6:35
Backing Vocals – Nadia Washington
Bass – James Genus
Drums – Terreon Gully
Guitar – Marvin Sewell
Keyboards – George Duke
Keyboards, Organ – Bobby Sparks
Piano – Gerald Clayton
Vocals – Dianne Reeves
Vocals [Additional] – Terri Lyne Carrington
Written-By – Dianne Reeves, Peter Martin, Terreon Gully
8    Wild Rose 5:50
Drums – Terri Lyne Carrington
Featuring, Bass, Backing Vocals – Esperanza Spalding
Flute – Camille Thurman
Guitar – Leandro Pellegrino
Keyboards – Bobby Sparks
Keyboards [Additional] – Cédric Hanriot
Percussion – Munyungo Jackson, Sheila E.
Trumpet – Ingrid Jensen
Vocals – Dianne Reeves
Written-By – Esperanza Spalding
9    Stormy Weather 8:02
Acoustic Guitar – Romero Lubambo
Bass – Reginald Veal
Drums – Terreon Gully
Featuring, Soprano Saxophone – Tineke Postma
Keyboards – Cédric Hanriot
Percussion – Munyungo Jackson
Piano, Arranged By – Peter Martin
Programmed By – Terri Lyne Carrington
Vocals – Dianne Reeves
Written-By – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
10    Tango 6:35
Acoustic Guitar – Romero Lubambo
Alto Saxophone – Tia Fuller
Bass – Reginald Veal
Drums – Terreon Gully
Featuring, Vocals – Raul Midón
Guitar – Marvin Sewell
Organ, Clavinet – Bobby Sparks
Percussion – Leonardo Osuna, Munyungo Jackson
Piano – Peter Martin (6)
Programmed By – Terri Lyne Carrington
Trumpet – Sean Jones
Vocals – Dianne Reeves
Written-By – Dianne Reeves
11    Unconditional Love (For You) 5:42
Backing Vocals – Nadia Washington
Bass – James Genus
Drums, Backing Vocals [Additional], Arranged By – Terri Lyne Carrington
Guitar – Marvin Sewell
Guitar [Additional] – Leandro Pellegrino
Keyboards – Cédric Hanriot
Percussion – Sheila E.
Piano – Gerald Clayton
Trumpet – Ingrid Jensen
Vocals – Dianne Reeves
Written-By – Dianne Reeves, Geri Allen
12    Long Road Ahead 3:59
Featuring, Harmonica – Grégoire Maret
Keyboards [Additional] – Cédric Hanriot
Organ, Keyboards – Bobby Sparks
Piano – Peter Martin (6)
Programmed By – Terri Lyne Carrington
Vocals – Dianne Reeves
Written-By – Dianne Reeves, Peter Martin, Peter Sprague