Reeves Soars With the Eagles in Her Ensemble at Catalina’s

Good jazz singing is always a partnership between musicians and singer. In some cases, the collaboration places the vocalist in a framework, a compatible musical setting that serves as a showcase for the soloist’s skills.

But the most compelling jazz singing usually takes place in a more symbiotic environment, one in which the singer blends seamlessly with the musicians--an upfront voice that is, at the same time, inextricably immersed in the totality of the music.

Dianne Reeves’ performance at Catalina Bar & Grill Thursday night was a stunning example--a presentation in which she was both soloist and center of attraction while remaining rooted in the fundamental musical reality of the ensemble. Singing a program based largely on standards, she interacted superbly with a band--David Torkanowsky, keyboards; Chris Severin, bass; Herlin Riley, drums; and Munyungo Jackson, percussion--good enough to carry an evening on its own.

Reeves, 41, has had a roller-coaster career, with two Grammy nominations and a resume that ranges from studio work to rhythm and blues, from Latin music (with Sergio Mendes) to world music (as Harry Belafonte’s protegee) and jazz. But her recordings have rarely matched either the intensity or the spontaneous creativity of her live performances. And, typically, her work at Catalina on Thursday reached well beyond her performances on the current Blue Note album, “That Day. . . .”

Reeves’ musical lineage flows strongly from the Sarah Vaughan style, and her rich, full-bodied sound, filled with warmth and color, was particularly attractive on ballads. But her lush vocal timbres in no way limited the flexibility or the rhythmic urgency of her frequent improvised passages.

A natural storyteller, she used her timing and phrasing to bring novel insights to everything she sang, from the layered harmonies and passionate lyrics of “Body and Soul” to the pop sentiments of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”

Reeves was aided immensely by the high quality of her musical associates and the innovative sounds of her arrangements. “Body and Soul,” “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise” and “Yesterdays,” all familiar standards, came alive via interpretations in which her floating vocals were supported by a steaming undercurrent of rhythm.

On “Love for Sale” and a powerful closing samba, the percussion of Riley and Jackson surged into the foreground in a series of rhythmic exchanges that brought both Reeves and her electrified audience to their feet.

Like everything else in Reeves’ splendid set, it was music with a level of achievement measured not just by the superior quality of the performance but by the smiles of enjoyment on the musicians’ faces.

* Dianne Reeves at Catalina Bar & Grill through Sunday. 1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd., (213) 466-2210. $25 cover tonight, $20 cover Sunday, with two-drink minimum.