One of the finest singers around, Diane Schuur continues to shine. The two-time Grammy winner was in strong form during a recent 90-minute show at Yoshi’s in Oakland. The evening featured a good blend of material from Schuur’s upcoming Concord Records CD, "Midnight," as well as some songs from her past. Produced by Barry Manilow, the new album is scheduled to be released Aug. 12. Schuur appeared on his 1987 jazz-oriented record "Swing Street." One of the night’s highlights was "What

Judging by a rare club appearance, Diana Krall’s next album will be her most adventurous to date. A surprise mix of blues and pop songs by contemporary songwriters made up the bulk of a recent show at Yoshi’s, a favorite Bay Area jazz spot. Krall hasn’t played such a small club in years, but the intimate setting was the perfect place to test run the new material. She was heading into the recording studio just two days later. Krall covered songs by Bonnie Raitt, Tom Waits, Mose Allison a

You never know what Cassandra Wilson might sing. From album to album, she has shown bold originality, weaving a rich tapestry of music from jazz to folk, pop to blues. A recent sold-out concert at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco proved that Wilson is still unconfined by musical boundaries. Barefoot and wearing a white dress, Wilson opened with Bob Dylan’s "Lay Lady Lay," wrapping her deep, rich voice around the line "Lay across my big brass bed." Her last CD, "Belly of th

It can be argued that Linda Ronstadt’s best work was the music she made beginning in 1983 with arranger Nelson Riddle. The 1970s’ rock princess wrapped her big, soaring voice around a collection of impeccably chosen standards, showcasing her talents in ways that "When Will I Be Loved" and "Tumbling Dice," as good as they were, never could. Ronstadt, 56, recently revisited the work she did with Riddle during a concert at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco. Opening with "What’s New," s

At a time of frayed nerves and weary hearts, Rosemary Clooney took a San Francisco audience under her care and provided solace. She made her entrance walking across a darkened stage on the arm of her husband. Seeing the shadowy figures, the audience surrounded them with applause. When the lights came on, Clooney was sitting in a chair at center stage, flashing her famous smile and easing into a fitting opening. "Gonna take a sentimental journey," she sang in a voice as warm and soothing as a ton