Diane Schuur - Artist Management
Diane Schuur Ms. Schuur surely is among the very best jazz vocalists, and she exemplifies if not redefines the diva category with her warm, often humorous, and relaxed interactions with the audience and the musicians. Her mere presence is enough to make for a memorable evening. Victor L. Schermer / All About Jazz
Diane Schuur is that rare breed of vocal artist or what I refer to as the harmonic chameleon that can sing anything and is able to deliver unique and incredibly memorable performances each and every time.Diane Schuur has aged like fine wine and with age comes wisdom and the ability to not simply sing the words but make the music and oh what music! Brent Black / CriticalJazz.com
Long regarded as one of Contemporary Jazz’s leading vocalists, Diane Schuur is as eclectic as she is brilliant. Born in Tacoma, Washington, Schuur was blind from birth; but she was gifted with perfect pitch and initially taught herself piano by ear. She later received formal piano training at The Washington State School for the Blind, which she attended until she was 11 years of age.
Nicknamed “Deedles” as a child, she grew up surrounded by the world of Jazz embraced by both of her parents: Her father was an amateur pianist, and her mother kept a formidable collection of Duke Ellington and Dinah Washington albums in her home. Not surprisingly, Dinah Washington is often listed as Schuur’s major vocal influence, and she learned the iconic singer’s “What a Difference a Day Makes” while she was still a toddler. She also developed her own rich, resonant vocal style at a very young age.
With a distinguished recording career that spans three decades, including two Grammy awards (Timeless and Diane Schuur and The Count Basie Orchestra on GRP Records), as well as three additional GRAMMY® nominations, Schuur’s music has explored almost every corner of the 20th Century musical landscape. Her musical collaborations include the aforementioned Count Basie Orchestra, Barry Manilow, B.B. King, Ray Charles, and Jose Feliciano, among countless others. These collaborations have resulted in numerous #1 Billboard Chart recordings, including Pure Schuur and Heart to Heart with B.B. King; Ms. Schuur has appeared on PBS and many other television specials…as well as a very special visit to the beloved TV show, Sesame Street. Diane has been invited to perform at The White House on multiple occasions, and was one of the select musical guests invited to perform for Stevie Wonder at the Kennedy Center Honors when he received his prestigious award. She continues to tour and perform extensively at major concert halls and venues around the world.
Most recently, Ms. Schuur recorded an homage to two of her very important mentors, Frank Sinatra and Stan Getz. The CD, entitled I Remember You (With Love To Stan and Frank) released in June 2014, and also commemorates her “official” discovery 35 years ago by Stan Getz at the 1979 Monterey Jazz Festival. The recording features all new arrangements by Alan Broadbent. For more information visit
Selected Songs:
“Diane Schuur And The Count Basie Orchestra”
Winner: Best Jazz Vocal Performance-female (1987)
“Timeless”
Winner: Best Jazz Vocal Performance-female (1986)
“Pure Schuur” ” Nomination: Best Traditional Pop Performance (1991)
“Love Songs” ” Nomination: Best Traditional Pop Performance (1993)
“The Christmas Song”
Nomination: Best Jazz Vocal Performance-female (1989)
Selected Discography:
I Remember You (with Love To Stan and Frank) Jazzheads 2014
The Gathering Vanguard 2011
Some Other Time Heads Up 2008
Midnight (produced by Barry Manilow) Concord 2003
Swingin” For Schuur with Maynard Ferguson Concord 2001
Friends For Schuur (produced by Phil Ramone) Concord 2000
Music Is My Life Atlantic 1999
Blues For Schuur (produced by Al Schmitt) GRP 1997
Heart To Heart (with BB King) GRP 1994
Love Songs GRP 1993
Pure Schuur GRP 1991
Talkin” “Bout You GRP 1988
Diane Schuur and the Count Basie Orchestra GRP 1987
Timeless (produced by Dave Grusin) GRP 1986