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Dianne Reeves Concert

Grammy Winning Jazz Vocalist Dianne Reeves to Give Benefit Concert April 1.Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves will perform a benefit concert on April 1 in support of Meharry Medical College?s newest facility, the Center for Women?s Health Research at Meharry.

Reeves is one of the pre-eminent jazz vocalists in the world today and has been awarded the Grammy for ?Best Jazz Vocal Performance? for each of her last three recordings?a Grammy first in any vocal category.

The benefit concert by Reeves will kick off a five-year, fund-raising goal for Meharry. The 8 p.m. concert, held at the historic Ryman Auditorium, will feature Reeves singing selections from her current album ?A Little Moonlight,? as well as other favorites from her nearly 20-year career.

?I am proud to be part of an event that focuses on the complete health of women?mind, body, and soul, ? said Reeves. ?The overall quality of life for women and their families will be improved as we encourage women to become advocates for their own health.?

Signed to Blue Note/EMI in 1987, Reeves has long since captured a huge following and tremendous critical acclaim. She has performed and recorded with greats such as Daniel Barenboim and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and was the featured soloist in a recent performance with Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic. Additionally, Reeves was the first Creative Chair for Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

An Ella Fitzgerald Award recipient by the Festival International de Jazz de Montr?al, Reeves performed at the closing ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City and appeared and sang on a season-ending episode of ?Sex and the City.? She closed out 2004 with performances throughout Europe and Asia and was delighted to be the featured performer at UNICEF?s Annual Gala in New York City. Look for Reeves in an upcoming PBS special on Billy Strayhorn (composer of the Duke Ellington signature ?Take the A Train?), as well as in George Clooney?s upcoming movie ?Good Night?and Good Luck.?

?Dianne Reeves has inspired the world with her harmonious sound,? said Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, director of Meharry?s new research center and chair of its Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. ?She portrays the transitioning woman of color who will be impacted by the research successes of this new center.?

The Center for Women?s Health Research at Meharry, scheduled to open by March 2006, is believed to be the nation?s first center devoted solely to scientific research on women of color.

The 10,000 square foot facility will consolidate biomedical and behavioral research addressing the health issues that disproportionately affect women of color, such as HIV/AIDS, which is 25 times more likely to strike women of color than their white counterparts. The center will occupy the majority of the 5th floor of the Meharry Clinics, which adjoins Nashville General Hospital at Meharry, and is designed to become a nationally recognized model providing an interdisciplinary approach to expand global awareness and clinical responsiveness to women?s health research.

Concert tickets are available through Ticketmaster. Visit Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or in Tennessee call 615-255-9600.

Meharry Medical College is the nation?s largest private, independent historically black institution dedicated solely to educating health science professionals. The college is particularly well known for its uniquely nurturing, highly effective educational programs; preeminence in health disparities research; culturally sensitive, evidence-based health services; and significant contribution to the diversity of the nation?s health professions workforce. Black Issues in Higher
Education?s ranking of institutions annually lists Meharry as a leading national educator of African Americans with M.D. and D.D.S. degrees and Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences.