Lady Of The Lavender Mist
Club 44, 2025
8/10
Listen to Lady Of The Lavender Mist
This sophomore album from the jazz vocalist Anaïs Reno showcases the youngsters very developed voice that surrounds love songs most of us are familiar with.
The elegant “Les Feuilles Mortes/The Autumn Leaves” opens with Reno’s expressive voice alongside Peter Bernstein’s dreamy guitar, and “When Lights Are Low” follows with Joe Farnsworth’s frisky drums that suit the charming climate of timeless jazz.
The title track lands in the middle and uses the rich guitar amid Reno’s stunning vocal prowess, while “Take Easy Love” is a crisp moment of romantic storytelling and a hint of playfulness.
“‘Round Midnight” and “Kiss And Run” exit the listen. The former makes great use of David Wong’s strategic voice amid the powerful singing, and the latter bops and shakes with an infectious energy thanks to the lively rhythm section, radiant guitar and Reno’s vocal acrobatics.
An artist with an exceptional career ahead of her, Reno’s first album was recorded at just 16 years of age, and this follow up is a top notch display of vocal jazz that even recruits her mother, Juliet Kurtzman, on violin.
Travels well with: Marina Pacowski- New Jazz Standards Volume 7: The Music Of Carl Saunders; Elaine Dame- Reminiscing