Heart to Heart

by

B.B. King and Diane Schuur

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This cd isn't the first time a mis-match worked in the studio. The aformentioned Brook Benton and Dinah Washington album sure, but don't forget the Ella and Louis collaborations. Ella couldn't sing off-key to save her life, as she tried to to on their duet version of "They Can't Take That Away From Me," and Louis's total disregard for lyric "The evening breeze erase the trees..."

Whereas Ella and Louis did more that one album together, this is the only pairing of Diane and B.B., and it's doubtful another one will follow. The selection of song is definitive, each duet performed just right, the arrangements of vocal and instrument is careful, Diane and B.B. compliment each other without sounding like they are falling all over themselves or stepping on each others feet. At the same time, B.B. shows us his ability to croon, a style not at all associated with him, Diane cuts loose a little. They do bring it together well, one song that merges B.B's croon and Diane's familiar is "You Don't Know Me." Normally this song is performed by local bands all across the country at Union Halls and the like, Diane and B.B. successfully disassociate this song with it's reputation and they do it sober.

As with the Louis and Ella albums, the artists not only sing, they play their instrument; Ella was an instrument. Diane plays her piano, B.B. plays his ever present Lucille. The arrangements compliment the piano and slide guitar well, jazz is present with colors of the blues. Nice. Diane and B.B. cover a Ella/Louis song "I'm Putting My Eggs In One Basket," and it's cute enough for them to get away with it.

Etta James signature song "At Last" is covered so well it seems a tribute to her. Fitting a blues artist the caliber of B.B. King performs it here with the intimate "I'm singing this directly to you, Etta" reading of Diane. This song deserves its place on "The Very Best Of Diane Schuur."