Midnight

1	Meet Me, Midnight 2:58
2	When October Goes 4:49
3	Stay Away from Bill / Karrin Allyson 3:49
4	I'll Be There / Brian McKnight 4:19
5	Consider the Point from Both Ends 4:12
6	What Is Love? 3:31
7	He Loved Me 4:06
8	Southwind 2:39
9	Our Love Will Always Be There 3:32
10	No Heartache Tonight 3:32
11	Good-Bye My Love 3:58
12	Life Is Good 4:02
13	Anytime 3:01

Barnes & Noble

On paper, hooking up jazz singer Diane Shuur with popmeister Barry Manilow may seem more than a bit ill conceived, but the results prove that unpredictability can sometimes pay off big. (Of course, Manilow fans are aware that their hero has been testing the waters of jazz for years, so that this collaboration has validity.) As producer and composer, Manilow deftly exploits Schuur’s talents as a full-voiced vocalist, one who finds the heart of a song and extracts all the emotion within. Schuur is also joined by some heavyweight guests, including R&B crooner Brian McNight and jazz diva Karrin Allyson, both adding extra flavor to the collaborative stew. Longtime fans of Shuur, one of the most distinctive jazz singers of the past few decades, may be wary at first, but they can approach Midnight with assurance. William Pearl

All Music Guide

On this set, Diane Schuur performs 13 songs written or co-written by Barry Manilow, most of which are new. On first glance, the project may not seem to have much potential, particularly if one thinks of Manilow's pop records. However, other than a charming vocal duet on the closing "Anytime," Manilow is not on this date and the emphasis is on Schuur's beautiful voice. Fortunately, she takes most of the songs pretty straight, sounding at her best throughout. Manilow proves to be an underrated songwriter, contributing some touching ballads and a few swingers while collaborating with some talented and often witty lyricists. A few of the songs are good enough to become standards (though the odds are against it) and there are some short horn solos along the way. Karrin Allyson duets with Schuur on the humorous "Stay Away from Bill," and singer Brian McKnight helps out on "I'll Be There." All in all, Midnight is a surprising success easily recommended to fans of Diane Schuur's voice. Scott Yanow