Dianne Reeves spoke with the Deseret News from Belgium only a matter of days before her Salt Lake City show. The jump from Europe to Utah is a big one.
"We always say, 'They pay us to travel, the shows we do for free.'"
Reeves live, at any price, is regarded as quite a treat from what many consider the premier female jazz vocalist of this generation. She carries a five-octave voice and performs with the power and clarity of greats like Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald.
She has the distinction of winning four Grammy awards and is the only singer to win the vocal category for three consecutive recordings in any singing category.
But she is no stranger to Salt Lake City. Singing here "many times," she was featured during the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Olympic Games, performing for many more people than will hear her Monday night at the downtown Sheraton as part of the GAM foundation series.
"Me and Salt Lake are good friends," she said. "We come every year or maybe every other year, and I am really looking forward to it."
Most comfortable with her regular musicians, Reeves promises that her live shows are performed from an emotional place with the tradition of jazz improvisation very much alive.
"There are intimate exchanges that happen on stage between all of us," she said, speaking of regular drummer Greg Hutchinson, pianist Greg Martin and bassist Reuben Rogers. "The music has the ability to change. You trust them and you do things you don't ordinarily. It is different night-to-night and moment-to-moment.
"Improvisation comes in many, many forms. It might be a part you want to explore a little more than something else or maybe tonight I want to sing a certain song as a ballad or maybe do a number with just the piano or maybe just guitar."
Whatever she chooses, despite her amazing range and clarity, Reeves is perhaps best known for her vocal interpretations. She has jazz staples at the ready but isn't afraid to wade into pop, soul, gospel or world beats to name just a few of the genres in which she's comfortable.
"On stage I am a storyteller," she said.
She is also an advocate of singers taking care of their singing parts.
"You have to define, refine, respect and protect (your voice). By protect I mean learning how to use it so you have it for the rest of your life."
If you go ...
What: Dianne Reeves
Where: Sheraton City Centre, 150 W. 500 South
When: Monday, 7:30 p.m.
How much: $25
Phone: 278-0411
Web: www.jazzslc.com
E-mail: lc@desnews.com