"I would go and talk to the elders because they had the stories and wisdom to share. I went to Beans Bowles' house. I told him about the jazz songs I wanted to perform, and what my plans were. I told him that I really wanted to get deeper into jazz. I really wanted to understand it. The first thing that he said was I have to live a little pain to really understand jazz," Horne recalls.

She dug deep on her fourth album Loving This Jazz, released in 2010 on her Sepia Tone label.

She put her twist on some oldies such as "Lullaby of Birdland," and "It Had Better Be Tonight." Horne added nuances to the standards without compromising their original melodies. On the disc, Horne is backed by the Kyoto orchestra. Often, when an orchestra accompanies a vocalist, they can be overpowering. On Loving This Jazz, the orchestra blends with Horne's voice.

Asked if she ever regrets giving up her first dream of becoming the next Diana Lewis, Horne chuckles, and then says she's fortunate to be a professional singer. It definitely beats selling Toyotas for a living.

Kimmie Horne performs Wednesday, March 23, through Saturday, March 26; shows are 6 and 8:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday; 6, 8:30 and 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. The Dirty Dog Jazz Café is at 97 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms; 313-882-5299; dirtydogjazz.com. Reservations recommended or required for most shows.

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