Friends for Schuur

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Not only did Diane Schuur's pal Stevie Wonder write a new song for Friends for Schuur, but he also sings and plays one of his patented harmonica solos on it. Wonder and "Finally" join some of Schuur's other long-standing friends, including Stephen Bishop, who guests on his "Red Cab to Manhattan." As is the case with Wonder, Bishop singing something new with Schuur is a refreshing event, with her crystal clear voice at each song's center. Schuur goes one further, flawlessly singing tunes made famous by both Wonder and Bishop, "It Might Be You," from the film Tootsie, and a live take on "I Just Called to Say I Love You," with Herbie Hancock joining her on piano. Schuur coaxes nuances from each tune here by drastically slowing the tempo and allowing her friends on keyboards (including Ray Charles and Dave Grusin) the space to explore the respective melodies. It's only on the simmering duet "It Had to Be You," with Charles, that the piano playing and blues shouting combo that Schuur is known for emerges. That's nine tracks into this 11-song effort. Virtually all the other selections here are sultry ballads with thick, lush arrangements, including a digitally transplanted sax solo by Stan Getz, the man credited with introducing Diane Schuur to all her friends in the jazz world. --Mark A. Ruffin

Friends for Schuur, Music, Diane Schuur, Contemporary Jazz, Jazz, Jazz Music, Jazz Vocals, Pop, Standards, Vocal Jazz

Average customer rating:

Exquisite Schuur In Her Finest Form

"GREAT" FRIENDS FOR SCHUUR~BRAVO DIANE!!!

Diane's strong Concord debut

Schuur's surer than ever!

Schuur is Wonderful.

Friends for Schuur
Diane Schuur
Manufacturer: Concord Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Pop | Styles | Music
General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Swingin' for Schuur

Music Is My Life

Schuur Fire

Midnight

Love Songs

ASIN: B00004XMZY
Release Date: 2000-09-26

Tracks:

Easy Living
I'd Fly
For The First Time
It Might Be You (Theme From 'Tootsie')
Love Like Ours
Red Cab To Manhattan
The Heart Never Learns
Never Take That Chance Again
It Had To Be You (Live)
I Just Called To Say I Love You (Live)
Finally

Amazon.com

Not only did Diane Schuur's pal Stevie Wonder write a new song for Friends for Schuur, but he also sings and plays one of his patented harmonica solos on it. Wonder and "Finally" join some of Schuur's other long-standing friends, including Stephen Bishop, who guests on his "Red Cab to Manhattan." As is the case with Wonder, Bishop singing something new with Schuur is a refreshing event, with her crystal clear voice at each song's center. Schuur goes one further, flawlessly singing tunes made famous by both Wonder and Bishop, "It Might Be You," from the film Tootsie, and a live take on "I Just Called to Say I Love You," with Herbie Hancock joining her on piano. Schuur coaxes nuances from each tune here by drastically slowing the tempo and allowing her friends on keyboards (including Ray Charles and Dave Grusin) the space to explore the respective melodies. It's only on the simmering duet "It Had to Be You," with Charles, that the piano playing and blues shouting combo that Schuur is known for emerges. That's nine tracks into this 11-song effort. Virtually all the other selections here are sultry ballads with thick, lush arrangements, including a digitally transplanted sax solo by Stan Getz, the man credited with introducing Diane Schuur to all her friends in the jazz world. --Mark A. Ruffin

Customer Reviews:

Exquisite Schuur In Her Finest Form.......2006-03-15

I own all of Diane Schuur's CD's... have been a fan for many years. I find this particular CD to get the most rotation in my player. Her voice, impeccable. The arrangements, lush and creative. Every song rates a full 5 stars, rare these days... I normally find that 2 or 3 songs on a CD merit a 5 star rating. This is truly a must-have for the true Jazz lover; one who can appreciate the undeniable truth that Diane will be remembered as one of the giants in the field of Jazz along side Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and on and on. Go ahead... spoil yourself. You will always cherish this compilation.

"GREAT" FRIENDS FOR SCHUUR~BRAVO DIANE!!!.......2003-09-15

No less that the genius of RAY CHARLES and STEVIE WONDER grace this wonderous collection of stunning performances and DIANE is in incredible peak form throughtout giving some of the most inspired performances of her brilliant career! DIANE'S amazing duet with STEVIE WONDER should have been a huge hit if the tone deaf and brain dead radio stations would have played it at as this is the best classic duet since the days of DINAH WASHINGTON and BROOK BENTON...HELLO out there in radio land and they must have all been asleep again on the Grammy Awards board. Classic duets continue and none is more breathtakingly thrilling than the wild ride on "RED CAB" with STEPHEN BISHOP and this one is so hot that it is like a roller coaster ride with two great voices that you won't want to end. "FOR THE FIRST TIME" is soul-deep and "I'D FLY" is dreamy and romantic. "NEVER TAKE THAT CHANCE AGAIN" is a totally great and undiscovered BURT BACHARACH classic that in better musically artistic times would have been a big hit for SCHUUR!!! For those wanting quality and great singing as good as it gets then this awesome collection is an absolute must have...DIANE'S live version of the great STEVIE WONDER classic "I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU" is worth the price of this timeless collection alone...BRAVO DIANE!

Diane's strong Concord debut.......2003-02-22

After recording only one album for Atlantic, Diane appears a year later with this recording, a departure from her previous album. Whereas Diane's Atlantic recording places her with simple rhythm section true to form jazz, this album is more pop oriented. The re-introduction of Stan Getz on the opening track "Easy Living" finds Diane reunited with her mentor, the man responsible for overseeing her first recordings with her first label GRP. The inclusion of Stan, even as an overdub, seems to say she's found a new home and she's staying for a while. Indeed, she followed up this cd with "Swingin' For Schuur" and as of this writing she is preparing a release of original music written and produced by label mate Barry Manilow, it's to be released early spring. There is not one song out of step, it's become redundant to say her singing is right on, she finds a passion with every note she sings. Stevie Wonder makes a welcome subdued appearance, as does Stephen Bishop. The inclusion of the live tracks is welcome, they were recorded while Diane was with GRP. Concord must have a great legal department. Excellent album and it's nice to see Diane with a stable recording contract.

Schuur's surer than ever!.......2000-12-16

Diane Schuur, or Deedles, as she is affectionately called by her friends, is back with a beatiful, eclectic album. Those who love jazz vocals will be entirely satisfied with her rendering of "Easy Living" featuring Stan Getz digitally re-introduced. Deedles simply shines on this performance. "It Had To Be You" with Ray Charles is not recommended for highly impressionable listeners! Schuur is at her best in vocal and artistic terms here. Needless to say, Ray Charles is a very good match. "I Just Called to Say I Love You" is a wonderful surprise: the tempo is slow and definitely on the jazz side, with a great vocal arrangement (featuring The Rob Mathes Voices) and, just in case, Herbie Hancock on piano! This song , which is actually not very interesting in its original version is a very healthy feast touched by Schuur's miraculous talents."Love Like Ours" is just exquisite and most suitable to very demanding, subtle audiences. In a different style, "Red Cab to Manhattan" with Stephen Bishop is divine: incredible vocals including Deeds' unique scat, friendship and freshness all around. The rest of the songs are ballads so very well conceived musically and vocally (though with Diane Schuur there is no such difference) that one can't but sit down and enjoy. Stevie Wonder and Diane Schuur sound wonderful together in "Finally". For those still not acquainted with the two-time Grammy Award winner, New First Lady of Jazz, "Friends for Schuur" is a good start. However, I recommend listening to every single past recording by this amazing artist. You might wish to know that Diane Schuur is white (though you will find it hard to accept!) and that she happens to be blind. Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan may really rest in peace now.

Schuur is Wonderful........2000-10-31

"Friends For Schuur" is DIANE SCHUUR'S first recording for Concord Records and she sounds as dynamic as ever. But Diane's not flying solo as she's enlisted plenty of her friends and they are Friends For Schuur. The album is chock full of stellar collaborations beginning with a digitally reintroduced Stan Getz sax solo on a rendition of "Easy Living" and finishing with a take on Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called To Say I Love You" featuring Herbie Hancock and "Finally", a brand new Wonder track on which Stevie lends both vocals and a harmonica solo. The rest of the album is rich throughout with Alan Bergman & Dave Grusin contributing to a luscious version of "It Might Be You (theme from "Tootsie")" and Ray Charles matching vocals on an inspired live version of "It Had To Be You". Another highlight is "Red Cab To Manhattan" which has a wonderful pop chorus, one that might help this song nestle in perfectly at adventurous Adult Contemporary radio. Produced by Phil Ramone, this eclectic album magnificently showcases Diane's multi-faceted vocal artistry.

Music:

Music

Music