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)
Jive Samba
Dianne Reeves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He used to say
A big man with a big alto sound
Folks affectionately called him Cannonball
"A teacher, historian, a jazz griot" someone wrote
Cannon could blow a sermon with every note
Departed at the young age of forty-three plus three
The lyrics of Dianne Reeves's song Jive Samba pay homage to the late jazz saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley. The opening line, "Hipness is not a state of mind but a fact of life," was one of Cannonball's famous sayings. The line speaks to the idea that being "hip" is not just about attitude or fashion, but rather it is a part of who we are and how we live our lives. For Cannonball, being "hip" meant being connected to the music and culture of jazz, and sharing that connection with others through his playing, teaching, and storytelling.
The rest of the lyrics describe Cannonball as a larger-than-life figure in the jazz world, with a big sound and a nickname that reflected his personality. He was not just a performer, but also a teacher and historian who shared his passion for jazz with everyone he encountered. Cannonball's ability to "blow a sermon with every note" refers to his knack for improvisation and storytelling through his saxophone playing. The lyrics also acknowledge the sadness of his early passing at the age of 46, but celebrate the rich legacy he left behind for future generations of jazz musicians and fans.
Line by Line Meaning
He used to say
This line introduces the song and refers to the late musician Cannonball Adderley, who used to say various things during his career.
A big man with a big alto sound
This line describes Cannonball Adderley's musical abilities, as he was known for playing the alto saxophone with a powerful sound.
Folks affectionately called him Cannonball
This line refers to the nickname that Adderley was commonly known by among fans and fellow musicians.
"A teacher, historian, a jazz griot" someone wrote
This line quotes someone who wrote about Adderley's contributions to jazz, including his roles as a teacher, a historian of the genre, and a storyteller in the African griot tradition.
Cannon could blow a sermon with every note
This line describes Adderley's powerful, soulful style of playing the saxophone, which was often compared to the soaring sound of a church sermon.
Departed at the young age of forty-three plus three
This line acknowledges Adderley's premature death at the age of 46, which was a loss to the jazz community.
But not without leaving us a rich jazz legacy
This line points out that although Adderley's life was cut short, he left behind a significant body of work and a lasting influence on the genre of jazz.
Lyrics © GOPAM ENTERPRISES INC
Written by: NAT ADDERLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind