Montana Magazine
Scott Prinzing, July/August 2004

Every once in a while I hear a voice that sounds like I've known the singer all my life. Jeni Fleming possesses such a voice.

This second recording with her Bozeman-based trio are reinterpretations of jazz and pop songs performed their "mystery folk" genre. The acoustic instrumentation adds to the folk label. The mystery is the new twist applied to old favorites, including Jerry Jeff Walker's "Mr. Bojangles," Bobbie Gentry's "Ode To Billy Joe," or Cindy Lauper's "Time After Time."

The versatile groove is provided by acoustic bassist Chad Langford, formerly with Bozeman's Sixth Sense. Husband Jake Fleming provides guitars, saxes, and mandolin. Both instrumentalists also add subtle percussion and smooth [vocal] harmonies to Jeni's distinct lead vocals. I learned of Jeni Fleming when visisting the classroom of her mother, a former collegue of mine. I noticed a poster on the wall of a beautiful, exotic young woman named Jeni, and learned she was her adopted daughter, whose piano talents and Filipino ancestry no doubt contributed to her reign as Miss Montana in 1992.

I first heard Jeni's trio at an art opening at the Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings. At first it seemed perfect background music, but when trying to listen closer I was annoyed that the talking drowned such great sounds. So it was with much satisfaction that I acquired this and their live debut, The Trinity Tour.

Jeni just recently performed with the Last Best Band's Craig Hall and Mike Freemole at Billings' main jazz venue, Walkers Grill. They were playing standards from charts, except for Jeni, who sang with her eyes closed. Good idea. Now I'm going to close my eyes, kick back, and listen to this CD again.