Jazz Singer Diane Schuur and Trio to be long remembered in Brno MF Dnes 29, April 2002 - Vladimír Strakoš
		The eagerly awaited focus of the three-day Jazzfest Brno, which ended on Saturday, was represented by a Friday evening show. It featured the American legend, blind vocalist Diane Schuur, accompanied by her two bandmates. A completely sold-out atrium of the International Business Center witnessed a well-mixed repertoire consisting of jazz, swing and pop. Schuur surprised the audience with an accesible approach and sovereign musicianship, based on almost flawless intonation and well-balanced alternating of voice registers. She seemed exceptionally comfortable in the upper register. Diane's voice timbre revealed roots of her inspiration leading to Dinah Washington and especially Ella Fitzgerald. Schuur, nicknamed Deedles, also proved her capabilities as an skillful accompanist and soloist on keyboard instruments. Even though she does not belong among the very best pianists of this kind, her playing was always soulful and naturally connected with the singing. The outcome was comparable with the performances of Shirley Horn or even Diana Krall. One of the very few originals presented throughout the evening was the opening Deedles Blues. Moderate and simple arrangements sparkled with humor and originality. The audience appreciated passionate renditions of famous ballads Lush Life by Billy Strayhorn and The Man I Love by George Gershwin. Diane Schuur, who reflects also pop music influences in her creation, managed to alternate almost all contemporary rhythms, spanning from swing, through bossa nova, lively samba and funk to rhythm and blues. Not too many listeners expected that during an evening full of jazz standards, two Beatles songs would fit in. Despite this fact, in an irreproducible atmosphere Diane Schuur shined in a well known Harrison's Something, which she enhanced with faithful vocal mimicking of composer's original guitar solo. The following Beatles song, Oh! Darling aggravated emotions of the audience and aimed towards a triumphal conclusion represented by vigorous Louisiana Sunday Afternoon and a gorgeous ballad Over The Rainbow by Harry Arlen, performed a capella. A strong basis for the well balanced performance of the trio was an extraordinarily solid rhythm section containing the bassist Scott Steed and drummer Reggie Jackson. Steed provided superb bass lines and a solid rhythmical and tempo stability. Jackson can play a Coltranesque blues in a breakneck tempo, however, this time he had to tame his temperament and submit to the sonic needs of the trio, even though the young American had enough space to present himself in his vital solos. The Diane Schuur Trio enchanted almost 300 listeners. Both a well-balanced sound from the ensemble and top interpretation of their repertoire earned the band a well-deserved success. Such a great experience will be long remembered in Brno.

		Festival stepped forward well MF Dnes, 27 April 2002 - Martina Himerová
		The day before yesterday the opening concert of the JazzFest Brno 2002 kicked off a three-day international jazz festival. The introductory performance took place in the Edison Garden club. The first night´s program included two bands sharing the stage. Although the first of the two, Tariska - Jonas Quartet, also have originals in the repertoire, their performance contained solely their own renditions of jazz standards and classics. Graduating athmosphere of the night was slightly dragged by Peter Lipa, a band´s guest for the performance. His renderings of Beatles songs could not significantly catch the audience´s attention and the listeners were also put to a different mood. Only when the alto saxplayer Radovan Tariska rejoined his bandmates on the stage, with his ravishing expression, the audience was brought to the boil again. Despite Tariska´s quite young age, it can be said he belongs among the very best Slovak jazz players. The chemistry between him and the pianist Gabriel Jonas gave birth to a exceptionally well executed straightahead jazz performance. The second part of the night belonged to the trio Nothing but Swing from Banska Bystrica joined by legendary tenosaxophonist Janusz Muniak from Krakow. They have been collaborating for a few years and their performance fully intrigued the audience. The night was finished off with a fabulous jamsession in Jazz Karel Kafe of the Theater 7 a pul, where the listeners could hear until the early morning hours practically all the performers again. Only then the real jazz thunderstorm began. The whole night was moderated by a man of distinguished manner, Jan Beranek. The attendance of listeners was beyond expectations of the organizers. For the first year of the festival it was a splendid beginning and for the jazz fans an invigoration, which contributed to stir the stagnant jazz waters in Brno.

		© 2002 JAZZFESTBRNO