Sunday, Jan. 16, 2000 | 9:32 a.m.
Blind jazz diva Diane Schuur often is compared stylistically to Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald. Some have called her "the new first lady of Jazz."
The two-time Grammy winner will be making her second appearance in two years at Boulder Station's Railhead on Friday, performing two concerts, one at 7 p.m. and one at 9 p.m. (tickets are $24.50, plus tax).
Schuur, nicknamed "Deedles," makes her home in Orange County in Southern California.
She lost her sight shortly after her birth in Tacoma, Wash., where she was reared and began appearing professionally at the age of 9. Throughout the '60s the budding young singer appeared at small clubs around Tacoma, playing piano and singing in the style of Washington and Vaughn. She cut her first record in 1971, two years before graduating from the Washington State School for the Blind in Vancouver, Wash.
The late Dizzy Gillespie is credited with giving her fledgling career a major push when he brought her on stage in 1979 to perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival, where she became acquainted with jazz tenor saxophonist Stan Getz, who became her mentor.
Her latest release is "Music is My Life" on the Atlantic Records label.
Question: How did you get the nickname "Deedles"?
Answer: Mom used to call me Deedle Babe as a kid. The name stuck.
Q: How did you develop an interest in music?
A: My dad played piano, not as a professional, but he has been playing ever since I can remember. When I was 2 or 3 I listened to him play all the time. That's how my interest in music developed. Back then I listened to a lot of different kinds of music.
Q: Why were you interested in jazz in particular?
A: The strongest influence on me was Dinah Washington, Dinah and Sarah Vaughn. I really sought them out. And I also listened a lot to George Shearing, one of the best pianists who ever lived.
Q: You started singing professionally when you were very young, 9 years old. What was it like?
A: I enjoyed it. My dad was a policeman for 30 years. It helped to supplement the family income a little. I would play weekend gigs, then go back to the school for the blind in Vancouver, about 150 miles from where we lived. Sometimes I would ride the train, sometimes the bus. Often I rode alone. This was before I was in high school.
Q: What style of music do you gravitate toward besides jazz?
A: Classic rock of the '70s. Once in a great while I will do "Got a Whole Lot of Love" if it's a really cool crowd. It's really a trip! I'm not really so much into the heavy metal of the '90s. The '70s seem to be more of an innocent period. As far as rap goes, I try to stay neutral on that point.
Q: You have been called the "new first lady of jazz" and compared to Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald. What is your reaction to such adulation? Do you prefer not being compared to anyone?
A: People are people in that way. I guess there's no getting away from it. I have enough self-confidence to know that I have my own style, so I don't let it bother me.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I'm not placed into any one genre. My style encompasses a lot of genres. I'm not pegged into one hole. If I were it would be boring.
Q: How did Dizzy Gillespie discover you?
A: I auditioned on the afternoon of the start of the (1979) Monterey Jazz Festival. He was instrumental in encouraging me to go out there on stage and do a segment of the show. I loved his "attack," his strident way of playing. He was just an all-around nice guy.
Q: Jazz saxophonist Stan Getz saw that performance and subsequently became your mentor, and you appeared with him at the White House once or twice. What did you like about Getz?
A: We did three albums together. I learned a lot from him about phrasing and about the building up of a song to bring it to its climax, its conclusion.
Q: How would you compare today's jazz with jazz in past years?
A: It's different today. You've got your traditional jazz and smooth jazz, which has its own sound, and a lot of other genres. There's more of a mix of music in general. I don't know if you can equate it with good or bad.
Q: Who is one of your favorite contemporary artists?
A: Stevie Wonder. I'm hoping to record "I Just Called to Say I Love You." I have his permission to do it. We have known each other for years. He's in the process of writing a song for me.
Q: Do you come to Las Vegas often?
A: Not often. I haven't worked Vegas in about two years, not since the last time I was at Boulder Station. I did attend Joe Williams' funeral (April 6, 1999) and I sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." But I did that on my own. When I found out Joe passed away I told my husband I had to fly to Vegas. Joe and I recorded together for the "Pure Schuur" album (1991).
Q: The centers of jazz used to be in New Orleans, Chicago, New York and L.A. Where are they today?
A: New Orleans has always been a hot spot for jazz, especially dixieland. But it's spread pretty much all over now.
Q: You do a lot of international touring. Is jazz more popular in other parts of the world than here?
A: In some places it might be considered to be. The Japanese, they really love it. Japan and different parts of Europe, they just really love it a lot. And South America, especially Brazil.
Q: Where is your favorite place to perform?
A: I love working the Blue Note in New York City. It's a really great club. And I must say I did enjoy Boulder Station a couple of years ago. It was a really fun audience.
Q: I understand you once had a problem with substance abuse. What straightened you out?
A: I just knew it was a crossroad that I needed to take. I did it with the help of a good supportive network. It's been over 10 years now. Just call me Double Digit Deedles.
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