Diane Schuur & the Count Basie Orchestra
42 min · 12 tracks · jazz
A vibrant collaboration merging Schuur's powerful vocals with Basie's swinging orchestral arrangements, creating a rich jazz tapestry.
Top tracks — play these first
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I Just Found Out About Love — This track highlights Schuur's remarkable vocal range and emotional delivery, perfectly complemented by Basie’s classic big band arrangement. Its upbeat tempo and playful lyrics demonstrate the joyful chemistry between the vocalist and the orchestra.
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You Can Have It — In this song, Schuur expertly navigates complex melodies while maintaining a conversational tone that engages listeners. The lush orchestration provides a stunning backdrop that enhances the intimate feel of her performance.
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Climbing Higher Mountains — This track showcases Schuur's ability to convey deep emotion through both lyrical content and vocal nuance. The orchestral arrangement builds gradually, mirroring the song's theme of perseverance and hope.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong vocal and orchestral interplay but lacks a cohesive flow throughout its length.
What we noticed
- Several tracks incorporate call-and-response sections between Schuur and the orchestra, creating a dynamic interplay.
- The tempo varies significantly across tracks, with some maintaining a brisk pace while others slow down to highlight emotional delivery.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo groove
- rich vocal warmth
- sophisticated background ambiance
- for social gatherings
- uplifting melodies for relaxation
Maybe skip if you
- prefer high-energy soundscapes
- seek experimental sonic textures
Where this album fits
- Career context
- This album, released in 1987, was a significant milestone for Diane Schuur as it marked her first collaboration with the legendary Count Basie Orchestra. At this point in her career, Schuur had already gained recognition for her vocal prowess, but this project elevated her profile and solidified her presence in the jazz scene.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Cassandra Wilson· Nina Simone· Patrice Rushen
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Deedles' Blues 3:33
- 2 Caught a Touch of Your Love 3:15
- 3 Travelin' Light 4:26
- 4 I Just Found Out About Love 2:40
- 5 Travelin' Blues 4:13
- 6 I Loves You Porgy 3:11
- 7 You Can Have It 3:28
- 8 Only You 4:46
- 9 Everyday 3:11
- 10 We'll Be Together Again 4:08
- 11 Until I Met You 2:57
- 12 Climbing Higher Mountains 2:31
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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