One of the most satisfying nights of music I’ve ever experienced took place several years ago. I was in New York City with my dear friend Michele. We purchased tickets to see singer Dianne Reeves at The Blue Note. It was a cold December evening. We were bundled up (which probably made us stand out as definitely not locals) and took refuge inside the Village venue. When Reeves took to the stage that night, that cold seemed like a distant memory. The way she performed holiday songs and other standards warmed our hearts. (And I don’t even particularly like Christmas music.)
If you want to experience the way Reeves brings joy and light to the holiday season, then you won’t want to miss Friday night’s concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The show is called Christmas Time is Here.
Two years ago Reeves was scheduled to perform at WDCH, but an illness prevented her from being here. (Her friend Dee Dee Bridgewater performed in her place.)
Joining Reeves for this concert are Peter Martin on piano; Romero Lubambo on classical guitar; Reginald Veal on bass and Terreon Gully on drums. So you’re basically getting a club configuration for the show. (Thankfully the acoustics at Walt Disney Concert Hall will make this seem much more intimate than it really is.)
But the star here is Reeves. She released an album on Blue Note in 2004 that shares its name with this concert. That album included such songs as “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Let it Snow,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and the title song. I usually find that songs utterly depressing, but Reeves takes the despair and melancholy out of it and makes it beautiful.
Friday night’s weather looks considerably warmer than it was when I saw Reeves. So if you even remotely enjoy Christmas music, you’ll want to consider this concert. If you love great vocals you should already have tickets for this concert. Do you?
For tickets go here.
Photo of Dianne Reeves by Jerris Madison/Courtesy of Los Angeles Philharmonic Association