Dianne Reeves - America’s first lady of jazz

IN advance of her gig at the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, Ed Power Dianne Reenes is as humble as ever, despite her Grammys and singing for George Clooney.

The first lady of American jazz wears her mantle lightly. Dianne Reeves may be garlanded in Grammy awards and have a fanbase that includes George Clooney and Elvis Costello. However, in person she is endlessly understated, blanching at the idea that she is the era’s preeminent ‘jazz’ vocalist. She’s a singer – nothing more, nothing less. It horrifies her to think she might be placed on a pedestal. She prefers to keep her feet on solid ground.

“I grew up in a time when people would listen to everyone and every thing,” she says, explaining why she doesn’t like to be pigeonholed. “I’ve always kept that with me. Marvin Gaye was from a gospel and r’n’ b background. He still sang jazz. Ella Fitzgerald was singing The Beatles. There were no boundaries – just good music.”