Diane Schuur has always been one of the world's greatest modern jazz voices, and her purity on this collection makes for her most artistic yet accessible statement to date. She may be broadening her scope to include pop, but she's also sure to pay homage to her jazzy upbringing, most notably on her stunning renditions of "Unforgettable" (the same year
Natalie Cole triumphed with the song) and "Deed I Do," a sassy big-band duet with the late
Joe Williams. The magic of
Pure Schuur lies in
Schuur's ability to pick and interpret such a wide range of songs with so many different types of arrangements. While producer
Andre Fischer seems to have a grand old time backing Deedles with sporty horn sections and synthesized sounds, the album is most effective with minimal instrumentation, as on the magnificent "You Don't Remember Me" and "We Can Only Try." As with
Frank Sinatra and the like,
Schuur is blessed with good-to-great songs, smart arrangers, and stellar productions, but it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that...voice.
Schuur's is clear, rich, and powerful, mixing fun and romance as only a jazz legend in the making can. ~ Jonathan Widran