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Ana?s Reno: Lovesome Thing: Ana?s Reno sings Ellington & Strayhorn featuring Emmet Cohen

By Pierre Giroux
April 22, 2021
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Anaïs Reno: Lovesome Thing: Anaïs Reno sings Ellington & Strayhorn featuring Emmet Cohen

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington and

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Strayhorn were collaborators for several decades beginning in the late 1930s. They became so closely intertwined musically that it was frequently impossible to distinguish their work.

Anaïs Reno

vocals
b.2003

" data-original-title="" title="">Ana?s Reno a young and promising singer has chosen to use their compositions as the basis for her debut release Lovesome Thing: Ana?s Reno Sings Ellington & Strayhorn. This choice was not without risk as the harmonic structure and lyrics of some of the compositions are better suited to a more experienced vocalist. However, Reno was undeterred and the results are more than impressive.

In addition to being fearless in her choice of material, Reno had the foresight to look for a supporting musical cast that would enhance her vocal efforts. Pianist and arranger

Emmet Cohen

piano
b.1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Emmet Cohen was an ideal selection as he is a stellar and inventive musician. Rounding out the band are

Russell Hall

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Russell Hall (bass),

Kyle Poole

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Kyle Poole (drums),

Tivon Pennicott

saxophone, tenor
b.1985

" data-original-title="" title="">Tivon Pennicott (saxophone) and on a couple of tracks violinist

Juliet Kurtzman

violin

" data-original-title="" title="">Juliet Kurtzman, who also happens to be Reno's mother.

The opening Ellington tracks "Caravan" and "Mood Indigo" had co-writers, namely

Juan Tizol

trombone
1900 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Juan Tizol on the former and

Barney Bigard

clarinet
1906 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Barney Bigard for the latter. Cohen has put together a rhythmically off-beat construction for "Caravan" that gives Reno the foundation to test her vocalese before the lyric begins. Pennicott covers much ground with his Middle-Eastern influenced solo, before Reno picks up the lyric again in the out chorus. Cohen's light fingered piano opening on "Mood Indigo" foretells the interpretation offered by Reno. Gliding over the lyrics, she shows a gift for flowing delicacy, that segues into Kurtzman's violin for an uncluttered interjection.

The impact of Ellington and Strayhorn either separately or together cannot be underestimated in the jazz world. Their work here as co-composers includes "Day Dream" and "All Roads Lead Back To You." The former was written as a feature for alto saxophonist

Johnny Hodges

saxophone, alto
1907 - 1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Johnny Hodges in order to take advantage of his restrained vibrato and daunting glissandos. Here Reno imparts an earthy intimacy to the number. The second number is also known as "Lotus Blossom" and is emotionally similar to the former composition, although slightly more melancholy.

"Lush Life" was Billy Strayhorn's first classic composition, written when he was just a teenager. It is filled with demanding harmonies and is complex chromatic music. The lyrics tell the story of the isolation of a black man who declined to compromise his sexual identity. No small stretch for a debutante singer, but one which she reaches with assurance. The final track in this session, "Take The "A" Train," was the first composition that Strayhorn wrote for Ellington. History tells us that the composition's name was based on directions that Ellington gave to Strayhorn to find Ellington's apartment in Harlem from mid-town New York. Reno's interpretation of the composition uses the imbedded swing norms and harmonic cleverness to deliver an "A" train experience.

Ana?s Reno exudes confidence on this debut and with experience should develop into a singer who will delve further into the heart of the songs she chooses.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

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 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.

Personnel

Ana?s Reno

vocals

Emmet Cohen

piano

Russell Hall

bass

Kyle Poole

drums

Tivon Pennicott

saxophone, tenor

Juliet Kurtzman

violin

Album information

Title: Lovesome Thing: Ana?s Reno sings Ellington & Strayhorn featuring Emmet Cohen | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Harbinger Records

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