Jenny Reynolds: "Willow & Stone" (2026) CD Review

It's been six years since the release of Jenny Reynolds' last album, Any Kind Of Angel, and a lot has happened in the intervening time, both in the world at large and in the artist's personal life. She fell in love again and got married, and that is enough to give anyone a fresh and positive outlook, and is the reason for this new album, Willow & Stone. The album contains all original material, songs of love, songs of change. André Moran, Mark Hallman and BettySoo played on Any Kind Of Angel, and join Jenny Reynolds again on this one. André Moran is on electric guitar; Mark Hallman is on bass, organ, keyboard, Mellotron, drums, percussion, harmonica and backing vocals; and BettySoo is on backing vocals and accordion. Also joining Jenny Reynolds on this release are Fred Mandujano on drums and percussion, and Noëlle Hampton on backing vocals, along with guests on certain tracks.

The album opens with "Listening To The Rain," which establishes a cool, somewhat relaxed vibe, with some nice work on keys at the start. Then, surprisingly, the lyrics come at us in quick succession, at least at first. "Face your own demons/Discover all the reasons/You might be believing/The lies they are teaching." Then the lines with the harmony vocals have a sweeter vibe. Both BettySoo and Noëlle Hampton sing on this track. There is also some good work on electric guitar, and a kind of a jazzy aspect to this song. "I'm just feeling all the pain/All the worry, all the hurry/When nothing is the same." That's followed by "Learning To Be Yours," a love song. We need as many of those as we can get these days. "Inch by inch, side by side/Fell in love, I became your bride," Jenny sings at the beginning of this one. The song has a sweet, gentle, cheerful sound. Noëlle Hampton and BettySoo again provide some wonderful vocal work. This track also features some good work on harmonica. "The day-to-day will teach us how/Take me dancing across the kitchen floor/I'm on my feet, I'm learning to be yours." It's interesting that the first two songs refer to teaching in some manner, as Jenny Reynolds used to work as a teacher. She delivers some pretty guitar work. I also appreciate the humor heard in the line, "Damn, your shoes are everywhere." In the line itself and the way she delivers in.

"If I Hadn't Waited So Long" is also about love, about a relationship, about our needs. "Didn't know that I'd been missing someone's love/Thought the way that I was living was enough/I thought I'd keep getting by on my own/Strong as a willow, but weak as a stone." Those lines give the album its title. This song contains a gorgeous, moving vocal performance, one to carry us through. Chip Dolan plays piano on this track, delivering some wonderful work. Then "I'm Not The One" has more of a country flavor. This one was written by Gabriel Rhodes and Jenny Reynolds. Gabriel Rhodes also joins Jenny on vocals, and also plays acoustic guitar and baritone guitar. "Don't waste your time, I'm not your baby/All I'll do is drive you crazy/I'm not the one, the one you're looking for." There is something of an Everly Brothers vibe to this song, something delightful about it, and it features some good stuff on guitar.

"In Our Way" is a song of some of those details we notice when we're in a relationship, particularly when we meet as adults, having already developed our own ways and habits. It's a sweet, comforting song. "You can set the table like you want to/I don't care as long as there's space for two." Interestingly, there is a change in the sound when she sings out of the outside world, which makes total sense. And then she returns to main vibe of the song. There is a more somber sound to the guitar work at the start of "Shadow And Sin." "Jury's back, gavel's down/I slipped out, but stayed in town/Just to see how you could go on living." And then Brian Standefer comes in on cello, adding to the beauty of the song. Jenny then returns to a full-band sound for "Living On The Seams," this time with Barbara Nesbitt on backing vocals. Michael Ramos plays both piano and flugelhorn, the horn adding another voice to the song. "How we heal, how we bleed/Your way, my way/Home or highway/I can't handle living on the seams."

A jazzy vibe is established by the guitar and percussion at the beginning of "Closer," a track that features one of the album's coolest vocal performances. "You watching the place or looking at me/Booth in the backroom corner is free." And I love those backing vocals by BettySoo and Noëlle Hampton. This is one of my personal favorites. Then "A Little Lie" has an interesting, kind of darker atmosphere, and features an intimate vocal delivery. "Hand in hand, give and go/Sweat and satin, dancing slow." This is the track that BettySoo plays accordion on, and her work adds a great flavor to the atmosphere. "Can you get away with me?" This is a captivating song. It's followed by "Imperfect." "I'm hurting, I'm hurting/I'm worried, you know/I'm worthless, I'm wordless/There just for show." It is her delivery of those lines that really grabs me. On this song Mark Hallman provides the harmonies, and then Noëlle and BettySoo come in too. This is another compelling song. The album then concludes with "The Night, The Moon And The Sea." On this one, Jenny plays electric guitar, and is supported just by Mark Hallman on both bass and keyboard. Jenny delivers a pretty and passionate vocal performance. "Some people only know stars/They're always looking too far."

CD Track List

1. Listening To The Rain
2. Learning To Be Yours
3. If I Hadn't Waited So Long
4. I'm Not The One
5. In Our Way
6. Shadow And Sin
7. Living On The Seams
8. Closer
9. A Little Lie
10. Imperfect
11. The Night, The Moon And The Sea

Willow & Stone was released on June 19, 2026.