Bea Wain's gorgeous voice is marvelously reproduced and celebrated on Jasmine's
My Reverie, a fabulous compendium of classic big band recordings dating from 1937-1941. Backed by the orchestras of
Larry Clinton,
Artie Shaw and
Leonard Joy, this charming woman demonstrates her ability to handle each and every song with uncontrived style and finesse. Her version of
Harold Arlen's "Stormy Weather" is an immaculately rendered rite of passage. Even
Hoagy Carmichael's long-suffering "Heart and Soul" becomes a delectable treat when sung by
Wain. Songs of a romantic nature undergo a magical transformation; "Deep Purple" and "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" become arrestingly beautiful, while "Dancing in the Dark" might well cause susceptible listeners to abandon all worldly attachments and responsibilities in order to worship the voice of
Wain by playing this one song -- "Dancing in the Dark," words by
Howard Dietz, music by
Arthur Schwartz -- over and over again for the rest of time.