Not only did Diane Schuur's pal Stevie Wonder write a new song for Friends for Schuur, but he also sings and plays one of his patented harmonica solos on it. Wonder and "Finally" join some of Schuur's other long-standing friends, including Stephen Bishop, who guests on his "Red Cab to Manhattan." As is the case with Wonder, Bishop singing something new with Schuur is a refreshing event, with her crystal clear voice at each song's center. Schuur goes one further, flawlessly singing tunes made famous by both Wonder and Bishop, "It Might Be You," from the film Tootsie, and a live take on "I Just Called to Say I Love You," with Herbie Hancock joining her on piano. Schuur coaxes nuances from each tune here by drastically slowing the tempo and allowing her friends on keyboards (including Ray Charles and Dave Grusin) the space to explore the respective melodies. It's only on the simmering duet "It Had to Be You," with Charles, that the piano playing and blues shouting combo that Schuur is known for emerges. That's nine tracks into this 11-song effort. Virtually all the other selections here are sultry ballads with thick, lush arrangements, including a digitally transplanted sax solo by Stan Getz, the man credited with introducing Diane Schuur to all her friends in the jazz world. --Mark A. Ruffin