DAWN CLEMENT

DEAR MS. DEARIE

Origin Records

Dawn Clement, piano/voice/arranger; Steve Kovalcheck, guitar; John Clayton, bass; Jeff Hamilton, drums.

Listening to Dawn Clement, I was immediately drawn into her music, like bees to the honey hive.  Her voice is sweet and her piano playing is inviting, but what really drew me into her music was Dawn Clement’s sincerity.  It colored every tone.

Her tribute to Blossom Dearie begins with a swinging instrumental rendition of “The Gentleman Is a Dope.”  Her piano playing is compelling and on point!  When her vocals enter, she sells the song effortlessly, the same way Dearie once did. Steve Kovalcheck offers a guitar solo that swings right along with my toe tapping and finger snapping.  The legendary Mr. John Clayton walks his bass, holding the rhythm firmly in place with the great Jeff Hamilton’s drums. Clement couldn’t have a better quartet.

This group of master musicians reimagine fifteen of Dearie’s memorable hit tunes. On “Tout Doucement” her little-girl tone floats like cotton-candy clouds above the shuffle of Hamilton’s drums and Kovalcheck’s strumming guitar. The title of this song celebrates gentleness, as Dawn Clement sings “Gently, gently” like a teacher instructing a student how to approach an animal at the petting farm. There is believability in every note she sings.

When John Clayton bows his double bass on “Figure 8,” I am totally engrossed; mystified; delighted and electrified. Then Clement’s soprano voice enters to teach her unusual math lesson. The sing-song story unravels beautifully. Clayton’s bowed elegance is like a velvet shawl draped over my listening room, soft, luxurious and comforting. When the shuffle enters, the folksy tune becomes a happy acknowledgement that any child or adult would enjoy singing and learning simultaneously. Clement offers a jazzy math lesson.

Dawn Clement re-lives the quirkiness and surprise that Blossom Dearie fans found in her tone and music. Dawn does it her way but still captures the heart and soul of Blossom Dearie’s approach to songs and to jazz.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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