Preferring instrumental music over vocal, there are very few vocalists that I voluntarily listen to – Dianne Schuur is one of them. Dianne Schuur recently performed at Catalina’s bar and grille. I attended the very last show of the last night that she was there.
The show was great with one exception, the sax player. Solely for the reason that I don’t like to write anything negative (“if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”), I will not say his name, but I feel like I need to say something about him as a lesson about what not to do as a side musician. This sax player did not know how to play behind a singer, or as a side musician period, didn’t really know any of the changes to the charts, and he didn’t even know some of the songs at all (for example – “Jordu”, a standard). Not knowing songs or changes is the reason most musicians own something called a “Fakebook”. As far as supporting Dianne Schuur in the ensemble, this saxophonist failed. The first song, he didn’t play a single fill, which Dianne Schuur called him on, right into the mic. So then, he just noodled non-stop off the mic for the entire next song. Nothing is more annoying than having someone play when they don’t know what to play or where to play it. So if his ensemble playing wasn’t bad enough, his solos were, well, the kind you clap for just because you are so glad that they are over. For all you young musicians out there, learn the melodies and changes to songs, learn how to play good fills, and how to be a good side musician.
Unlike the saxophonist, the rest of the ensemble sounded great, especially Dianne Schuur. Her singing and piano playing was incomparable. She picked really great tunes for the set and played them all amazingly. In addition to her outstanding musicianship, Dianne Schuur is also a fantastic performer. Occasionally smiling at the crowd during a solo, or talking to the audience between songs really showed her desire for the audience to be truly involved in the show. One of the most entertaining non-musical moments of the show was when she explained what “Deedle-caf” was. It is her name for decaf coffee (her nickname is Deedles). When she was brought “Deedle-caf”, she said “mmm” into the mic after every sip, which in itself defined why she named decaf coffee after herself.
Dianne Schuur is an absolutely amazing performer. If you have not seen her perform yet, you really should – it will be some of the best jazz you have ever heard (as long as that sax player is not there).
