Jenny Reynolds – Willow & Stone
On first listen, I found this work mature & interesting with a vocalist who has a fanciful signature sound that’s engaging. Ms. Reynolds has her influences, but on the opening number “Listening To the Rain,” she’s sanded into a smooth-toned solo artist with good tone, intonation & phrasing. A warm sound that continues into track 2, “Learning To Be Yours,” where Jenny sounds like she’s singing personally to you, so be aware when you place those headphones on your ears.
Produced & recorded in Austin, TX by Mark Hallman, Willow & Stone (Dropped June 19/Independent/38:44), this is a fine collection by an artist who knows her genres & understands what works. She has exceptional support musicians, & Jenny (electric, acoustic & nylon-string guitars/vocals) sings just above a whisper on her “I’m Not The One,” with its Buddy Holly-styled melody & arrangement. It’s delightful stuff. Her expressiveness is like a blend of the Everly Brothers & Chris Isaak.
There’s a marginal impression of mid-career Joni Mitchell, the late talented Judee Sill (“The Kiss”) & Laura Nyro that seeps into the music stylization. Poignancy, taste, evocative, expressive & never too folky. Her blend of pop, folk, & country, & simple singer-songwriter skills bring out a distinctive voice & it’s captured well in these recordings.
Her musical approach has virtuosity, personality, & good technique. “If I Hadn’t Waited So Long” is a beautiful middle-of-the-road, easy listening cocktail lounge piece that any fine female artist would’ve enjoyed singing from jazz giant Anita O’Day to Joan Baez. There isn’t one blemish in this set. The songs are relatable, personal, emotional, & expressive in many ways. “Shadow & Sin” has a warm cello & acoustic guitar – but they drive the song with such a sincere melody with Jenny’s precision performance. While their voices differ, the late Eva Cassidy (“Fields of Gold”) also had the same sophisticated voice as Jenny.
There’s some jazzy flugelhorn (“Living On the Seams”), which is a jump from the cello & acoustic guitar of the prior tune. Nice, balanced repertoire, well-produced & with arrangements that aren’t overwhelming. Jenny will loosen up on a samba-oriented song (“Closer”) & add the Euro-backup voices so popular in the ‘60s on albums by people like the late Claudine Longet. This is a satisfying showcase with coherent songs & a consistently entertaining voice.
Highlights – “Listening To the Rain,” “Learning To Be Yours,” “If I Hadn’t Waited So Long,” “I’m Not The One,” “In Our Way,” “Shadow & Sin,” “Living On the Seams,” & “Closer.”
Musicians – Mark Hallman (bass/upright bass/keys/drums/tambourine/bgv/Hammond organ/mellotron/harmonica/harmonies/percussion), BettySoo (harmony/accordion/bgv), Noelle Hampton & Barbara Nesbitt (bgv), Andre Moran (electric guitar), Gabriel Rhodes (acoustic & baritone guitars/vocals), Fred Mandujano (drums/percussion), Chip Dolan (piano), Brian Standefer (cello), & Michael Ramos (flugelhorn/piano).
Photography courtesy of Jenny’s Bandcamp. CD @ Bandcamp & Apple + https://www.jennyreynolds.com/
Find some of our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Jenny Reynolds’ “Any Kind of Angel” is Loaded With Musical Instinct