DIANNE REEVES - The Calling : Celebrating Sarah Vaughan (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The ever-restless Dianne Reeves tries to do something unconventional with an utterly conventional idea -- a tribute album to Sarah Vaughan -- and ends up overdoing the whole thing, though it's not really her fault. While the virtuosic Reeves often cannot resist reaching down into her chest register for some daring, earthy, Sassy-like swoops ("Key Largo" and "If You Could See Me Now" are key examples) or a daring vocalise like "A Chamada," she mostly retains her own identity in these 11 tunes, with a bright timbre that cannot be mistaken for that of Sassy. The element that does this project in are the overblown charts for a 36-piece orchestra that sounds a lot bigger and more congested than it is. Arranger/pianist Billy Childs (spelled on two tracks by Robert Freedman) is rarely content to relax and let a groove happen; he's too busy filling every conceivable space with all kinds of swirling, convoluted ideas that compete with, rather than enhance, the singer and the tunes. The one original tune on the session, "I Remember Sarah," opens with a scat chorus, then pianist Mulgrew Miller plays the blues, and Reeves does her familiar style of autobiographical rap in song. The best moment occurs when cagey veteran Clark Terry offers some jive talking in back of Reeves on "I Hadn't Anyone 'Til You" and some deliciously sly plunger mute trumpet work, fighting the orchestra all the way. Of course, it could be said that an over the top tribute to this larger than life diva is the only appropriate thing to do, but that doesn't make this session -- recorded quickly in the old manner -- any more listenable. by Richard S. Ginell  
Tracklist :
1    Lullaby Of Birdland 4:57
Written-By – B. Y. Forster, G. Shearing
2    Send In The Clowns 6:01
Written-By – Stephen Sondheim
3    Speak Low 6:23
Written-By – K. Weill, O. Nash
4    Obsession 7:37
Written-By – Mann, Caymmi, Peranzetta
5    If You Could See Me Now 6:44
Written-By – C. Sigman, T. Dameron
6    I Remember Sarah 4:19
Written-By – B. Childs, D. Reeves
7    Key Largo 4:08
Written-By – Suessdorf, Worth, Carter
8    I Hadn't Anyone 'Til You 5:39
Trumpet – Clark Terry
Written-By – Ray Noble
9    Fascinating Rhythm 5:23
Written-By – G.Gershwin-I.Gershwin
10    Embraceable You 7:55
Written-By – G.Gershwin-I.Gershwin
11    A Chamada (The Call) 6:17
Written-By – Milton Nascimento
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar – Romero Lubambo (pistas: 3, 4, 7, 11), Russell Malone (pistas: 10)
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Steve Wilson (2) (pistas: 2, 4, 7)
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Billy Childs (pistas: 1 to 6, 9 to 11), Robert Freedman (pistas: 7, 8)
Bass, Electric Bass – Reginald Veal
Cello – Armen Ksajikian, Cecilia Tsan, Daniel Smith (4), Eric Gaenslen, Maurice Grants
Conductor – Billy Childs, Patrick Gandy
Conductor [Orchestra] – Billy Childs
Drums – Greg Hutchinson
French Horn – Jim Atkinson, Joe Meyer, Rick Todd, Steve Becknell
Harp – Carol Robbins
Percussion – Munyungo Jackson (pistas: 3, 4, 7, 9, 11)
Piano – Billy Childs (pistas: 2, 4, 9), Mulgrew Miller (pistas: 1, 3, 5 to 8, 12)
Producer – George Duke
Trombone – Andrew Martin
Trumpet – John Fumo, Rick Baptist, Wayne Bergeron
Viola – Gina Dorman, Lynn Grants, Robert Berg, Thomas Diener
Violin – Anatoly Rosinsky, Robert Sanov, Brenton Banks, Dennis Molchan, Elizabeth Wilson, Henry Ferber, Henry Gronnier, Igor Kiskatchi, Irma Neuman, Jennifer Munday, Shari Zippert
Violin, Concertmaster – Assa Drori
Vocals – Dianne Reeves
Woodwind – Beverly Dahlke-Smith, Bill Liston, Dick Mitchell, Don Shelton, Greg Huckins