Album Review: Lovesome Thing – Anaïs Reno sings Ellington & Strayhorn

Anaïs Reno (vocals); Emmet Cohen (piano, leader, arranger); Russell Hall (bass); Kyle Poole (drums); + on some tracks Tivon Pennicott (saxophone);

Juliet Kurtzman (violin)

Here is a woman singer who stands out from the rest. Ms Reno recorded this album last year at the age of just 16, her debut CD, which is a tribute to the music of Ellington and Strayhorn. A very brave venture, considering that those composers are iconic and their songs have been covered by just about every other singer in the world! Our singer wanted to do this music, stating that she felt an affinity with the composers.

Ms Reno had already gained many honours, including the platinum award at the 2016 Forte International Competition at Carnegie Hall.  Growing up in New York City and taking voice lessons from the age of 8, the first jazz song she tackled was At Last and from that time she was hooked on jazz. Advised by her father, a retired opera singer, young Anaïs performed at open mic nights from the age of 12, and landed her first gig at the age of 13.

The album is enjoyable, with skilled singing and clever instrumentation, and no-one could argue with the choice of songs. The voice is already quite mature and even more maturity will develop with age, which will be especially suitable for bluesy numbers such as Mood Indigo. The interpretation of the lyric even now is immaculate.

Tracks that stand out include Caravan, with a percussion introduction and the voice crying 'freedom' in an eastern style; Mood Indigo which has a skilled violin solo played by Ms Reno's mother; Still In Love, where our singer shows her ability to swing; the wordless singing of the tune on Chelsea Bridge; a heartfelt rendering of the Covid-appropriate song It's Kind Of Lonesome Out Tonight. The song I liked the most was Strayhorn's Lush Life, just voice and piano, portraying the biting loneliness of a degraded lifestyle. Our singer wisely leaves us smiling on the final track, with a lively, snappy, Take The ‘A’ Train.

It is worth noting the excellent playing of Emmet Cohen, jazz pianist, educator, and composer, who has won many awards, including the 2019 American Pianist Award, and who has collaborated with many well-known artists such as Benny Golson and Kurt Elling. Ms Reno is keeping good musical company. A singer to watch for the future.

The album is available on Harbinger Records and everywhere from April 16.

See www.anaisreno.com

Ann Alex

Caravan; Mood Indigo; Still In Love; Chelsea Bridge/A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing; I'm Just A Lucky So And So; It's Kind Of Lonesome Out Tonight; Day Dream; I Ain't Got Nothing But The Blues; All Roads Lead Back To You; U.M.M.G. (Upper Manhattan Medical Group); Lush Life; Take The 'A' Train.