Can music surprise?
Born in Detroit to a musical family, Dianne Reeves is now considered one of the pre-eminent jazz vocalists in the world today with unique jazz and R&B stylings and four Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Performance. This illustrious jazz powerhouse brings her quartet (Peter Martin, Romero Lubambo, Reginald Veal, Terreon Gully)  for her first area appearance in five years as part of UMS’s celebration of Hill Auditorium’s 100th birthday.

This special concert opens with a set by Raul Midón, who unleashes a silky, soulful tenor and dazzling percussive guitar style — a syncopated, flamenco- and jazz-infused approach in which bass, harmony, and melodic lines emanate from the fretboard in one slap-happy storm. He was a backup singer for Julio and Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, and Ricky Martin before pursuing a solo career, and is known for his incredible improvisational mouth horn technique in which he creates a bebop “trumpet” solo entirely with his lips.

Program:
Raul Midón Set
Everybody
When you Call My Name
Sunshine
Everyone Deserves a Second Chance
Invisible Chains
State of Mind
Dianne Reeves Quartet Set
Quartet Solo
12th of Never – 4 Livingston/Webster
Tango – D. Reeves
Stormy Weather – Arlene/Kochler
Misty – E. Garner
Good Day – D.Reeves
Little Drummer Boy – K.Davis
The Christmas Song – M.Torme’ (Encore, with Raul Midón as guest)
Program Book [PDF]

Also see:
Dianne Reeves Website
Raul Midón Website

As a result of her virtuosity, improvisational prowess and unique jazz and R&B stylings, Dianne Reeves received the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for three consecutive recordings – a Grammy first in any vocal category.

 She has recorded and performed extensively with Wynton Marsalis, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic.  She was the first Creative Chair for Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Dianne Reeves’s new album – her first since 2008 – is due out later this year.

Raúl Midón combines his distinct voice, strumming, beats, and vocal trumpet sounds to create a one-man performance. His unique style shows influence of virtually every musical genre which came before him, including jazz, blues, R&B, and folk. Midón is blind from infancy. “Midón has a lovely voice, a beautifully controlled tenor that can express anything from tenderness to passion… And the guy can play. His strumming has a flamenco flourish, but after a while you realize he can do every kind of accompaniment he needs on acoustic guitar” (The Guardian).

Dianne Reeves last appeared under UMS auspices during the 2007-2008 season; this performance marks her fourth appearance. Raúl Midón makes his UMS debut.

Related UMS Education & Community Engagement Events

1/14: UMS Night School Session 4: Jazz in the Hall
2/2: Hill Auditorium Celebration

Performance trailer ft. Dianne Reeves