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 Dearies hits, including lush ballads like Lies of Handsome Men and Once Upon a Summertime, the cool swing of Tout Doucement, and the smartly snapping Its Love, through Dawns 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 Dearies art, but Clements own compositional gracemusic that surprises, haunts, and heals in equal measure.