For the American pianist/singer Diane Schuur, or 'Deedles', who was born blind, it was matter of course that she would go into the music biz. Inspired by two musician parents and a record collection filled with Duke Ellington and Dinah Washington, she started taking piano lessons at an early age at the Washington State School for the Blind. After high school, she went on to study jazz, with occasional gigs in local bars. When Stan Getz heard the musician play at the Monterey Jazz Festival, he was blown away. Later he would invite her for a concert in the White House. Schuur became well known especially through her fusion music for the famous GRP-label. In the mean time we are sixteen albums further. Her latest CD is a straight-ahead jazz album with the big band of Maynard Ferguson. At the moment Diana Schuur counts as one of the greatest jazz vocalists, with a noticeable good timing, singing technique and intonation. Diana Schuur has never let her handicap get in the way of her musical aspirations. Music she makes, enjoying it thoroughly.
