Grammy-winning Dianne Reeves shows that music has no boundaries

The Cornell Concert Series brings Dianne Reeves to the State Theatre Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. Courtesy of Cornell Concert Series

"Power" is defined by Webster's as "possession of control, authority or influence over others." The classic jazz magazine Down Beat says that it's also "the word that comes to mind when thinking of singer Dianne Reeves." With her rich, gorgeous voice, her commanding presence and her seemingly effortless mastery of many styles of music, Reeves has been hailed as the successor to jazz legends Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. But, Down Beat adds, "to feel Reeves at full force, you have to hear her live."

On Saturday, Feb. 12, at 8 p.m., those in Historic Ithaca's State Theatre will get the chance to do just that. The three-time Grammy winner will take the stage with her band, featuring Reuben Rogers on bass, Greg Hutchinson on drums and Peter Martin on piano.

Tickets for the concert are on sale at the ticket center at Clinton House, open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Call 273-4497 or (800) 284-8422. Tickets are $17-$29 for the general public and $10-$17 for students. This concert is sponsored by the Cornell Concert Series.

The adventurous Reeves, who believes that "music should have no boundaries," draws upon a wide range of influences, ranging from classic and contemporary pop to gospel and rhythm and blues to music from Africa and the Caribbean. Her recent releases on the Blue Note label include a live album from 2000, In the Moment; a tribute to Sarah Vaughan with 2002's The Calling; and A Little Moonlight, a collection of standards from 2003. All three albums brought Reeves Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal, making her the only recording artist in any singing category to win a Grammy for three consecutive releases. Her most recent release was last year's Christmas Time Is Here, a collection of seasonal recordings.

Reeves currently serves as creative chair for jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, overseeing the scheduling of jazz programming and educational workshops at the Hollywood Bowl and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. She has received an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music and has performed at the 2002 Winter Olympics and with the Berlin Philharmonic. She lives in Denver but spends much of her life on the road. "I really believe in touring," she says. "It's the only way you can get close to your audience."