Dianne Reeves, born 23 October 1956 in Detroit, Michigan, is an American ja… Read Full Bio ↴Dianne Reeves, born 23 October 1956 in Detroit, Michigan, is an American jazz singer, known more for her live performances than her albums. Alongside her peers Dee Dee Bridgewater, Diana Krall and Cassandra Wilson she is considered one of the most important female jazz singers of our time. She lives in Denver (Colorado/USA)

Dianne came from a very musical family. Her father, who died when she was two years old, was also a singer. Her mother, Vada Swanson, played trumpet. A cousin, George Duke is a well known piano and keyboard player and producer.

Dianne and her sister Sharon were raised by their grandmother in Denver, Colorado. As a child Dianne took piano lessons and sang at every opportunity. When she was 11 years old her interest in music was enhanced by an inspiring teacher who thought that music was the best way to bring students together. Dianne discovered a love of music and that she wanted to be a singer.

Her uncle, Charles Burell, a bass player with the Denver Symphony Orchestra, introduced her to the music of jazz singers, from Ella Fitzgerald to Billie Holiday. She was especially impressed by Sarah Vaughan.
1974
At the age of sixteen she was singing at the George Washington Highschool in Denver, in a highschool bigband. That same year the band played at a music festival (Convention of the National Association of Jazz Educators). Her Band won first place and it was there she met the trumpeter Clark Terry, who after discovering her became her mentor.

1975
A year later she began studying music at the University of Denver, before she moving in 1976 to Los Angeles. In L.A. her interest in Latin-American music grew, and she began experimenting with different kinds of vocal music and finally decided to pursue a career as a singer. She met Eduardo del Barrio, and she toured with his group "Caldera" and sang in Billy Child's jazz band "Night Flights". Later she tour with Sergio Mendes.

From 1983 until 1986 she toured with Harry Belafonte as a lead singer. This period saw her first experiences with world music. In 1987 she became the first vocalist to sign with Blue Note records. She moved back to Denver from Los Angeles in 1992. She sang at the closing ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.

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Grammy Awards
She has currently won 3 Grammy Awards for "Best Jazz Vocal Performance" for her albums

2001 In the Moment
2002 The Calling
2003 A Little Moonlight
2006 Good Night, And Good Luck (Soundtrack)
She is the only singer to have won this Grammy in three consecutive years.

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Discography
1977 - Welcome to My Love
1987 - Better Days
1988 - I Remember
1990 - Never Too Far
1991 - Dianne Reeves (same as Better Days)
1993 - Art & Survival
1994 - Quiet After the Storm
1996 - The Grand Encounter
1996 - Palo Alto Sessions
1997 - That Day
1997 - New Morning (live)
1999 - Bridges... produced by George Duke.
2000 - In The Moment (live)
2001 - The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan
2002 - Best of Dianne Reeves
2003 - A Little Moonlight
2004 - Christmas Time is Here
2005 - Good Night, And Good Luck (Soundtrack)

Hello Haven't I Seen You Before
Dianne Reeves Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Look at him standing there
All alone in the room
It's getting late where's his date
Could it be he came alone
Elegant, confident, bad as can be
If only I could figure why I'm having so much trouble saying

Hello haven't I seen you before

Just thought I'd say that I want your company
A rendezvous for two just me and you
C'mon baby talk to me

Wish I could tell him what's on my mind
What's wrong with me

I looked away just to say
Goodnight to a friend
I turned around but only found
Someone else where he had been
Mad about losing you
So I headed for the door
If only I could figure out why
He met me on the way and whispered

Hello haven't I seen you before
Just though I'd say that I want your company
A rendezvous for two just me and you
C'mon baby talk to me

Ooh baby talk to me
Will you just talk to me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Dianne Reeves's song Hello Haven't I Seen You Before tell the story of a woman who is interested in a man at a party but is having trouble finding the courage to approach him. She describes him as elegant, confident, and "bad as can be," and wonders why she is struggling to say a simple hello. As the night goes on, she eventually turns to leave, feeling disappointed that she didn't get to talk to him. However, as she's heading for the door, the man approaches her and says, "Hello haven't I seen you before" before inviting her to a rendezvous for two.

At its core, this song is about the fear and uncertainty that can come with trying to connect with someone new. The singer is clearly attracted to the man but is held back by her own insecurities and doubts. She wishes she could "tell him what's on [her] mind," but instead finds herself looking away and losing the chance to talk to him. When he does finally approach her, it's a moment of validation and excitement, and the invitation to a private rendezvous suggests that there may be potential for something more.

One interesting aspect of this song is its musical style. Hello Haven't I Seen You Before blends elements of jazz, R&B, and soul, with Reeves's smooth vocals backing by a lively instrumental arrangement. The song's catchy hook and upbeat tempo make it an enjoyable listen, even as it grapples with deeper emotional themes. Additionally, the song's lyrics have been interpreted as a nod to the classic jazz standard "Hello, Dolly!" by Jerry Herman, adding an extra layer of meaning for those familiar with the genre.

Line by Line Meaning

Look at him standing there
Observing a man who's standing by himself in the room

All alone in the room
He doesn't have anyone to accompany him in the room

It's getting late where's his date
It's getting late and wondering where his companion is

Could it be he came alone
Wondering if he came by himself

Elegant, confident, bad as can be
He looks very elegant, confident, and impressive

If only I could figure why I'm having so much trouble saying
I'm having a hard time expressing what I want to say and wondering why

Hello haven't I seen you before
I think I've seen you somewhere before

Just thought I'd say that I want your company
I just wanted to let you know that I'd like to spend time with you

A rendezvous for two just me and you
I would like to have a private meeting with you

C'mon baby talk to me
Please talk to me

Wish I could tell him what's on my mind
I wish I could express what I'm thinking to him