Dear Ms. Dearie – Dawn Clement

With Dear Ms. Dearie, pianist and vocalist Dawn Clement offers a luminous, deeply swinging homage to the singular vocalist/pianist, Blossom Dearie. Less a tribute than a tender correspondence across time, Clement inhabits the repertoire with wit and quiet daring amid the masterful accompaniment of bandmates John Clayton, Jeff Hamilton, and Steve Kovalcheck. Together they reimagine 15 of Dearie’s hits, including lush ballads like “Lies of Handsome Men” and “Once Upon a Summertime,” the cool swing of “Tout Doucement,” and the smartly snapping “It’s Love,” through Dawn’s inspired arrangements that balance swing with intimacy, sparkle and hush. Produced by Matt Wilson and recorded by Steve Genewick in Los Angeles, the album superbly captures not only the humor, heart, and harmonic sophistication that defined Dearie’s art, but Clement’s own compositional grace—music that surprises, haunts, and heals in equal measure.