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Photos and Reviews of Annie Wells
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Reviews
Jennifer Gurton
BUZZMUSIC | The home for independent music -10.6.2025
Annie Wells Finds Light in Love on New Single “True Blue Boy”
Rochester-based singer-songwriter Annie Wells has always been known for weaving her life experiences into music that sits at the intersection of jazz, pop, folk, and the Great American Songbook. With her new single “True Blue Boy,” Wells offers a deeply personal piece that tells the story of a difficult yet ultimately rewarding courtship with the man who would become her husband.
Written as a birthday gift for her partner, Colin, “True Blue Boy” is framed around the journey to true love, one marked by obstacles, heartbreak, and resilience. Wells’ lyricism finds inspiration in blues and jazz greats like Duke Ellington and Muddy Waters, and the song reflects their timeless spirit while adding her own contemporary twist. The result is a track that feels both classic and refreshingly intimate.
Musically, Wells surrounds herself with seasoned jazz musicians whose résumés span from the Glenn Miller Orchestra to collaborations with Ray Charles and Archie Shepp. Mike Kaupa’s trumpet lines bring warmth and color, Dave Arenius’ upright bass grounds the song in tradition, and Phil Marshall’s guitar provides texture and rhythm. Together, they build a soundscape that feels as rich as the story it carries.
What sets “True Blue Boy” apart is its ability to balance melancholy with joy. The song acknowledges the heartaches and struggles of Wells’ relationship but pairs those reflections with an upbeat, rhythmic feel that mirrors the triumph of love that lasts. Wells’ ethereal voice, often compared to Joni Mitchell and Blossom Dearie, floats above the arrangement with clarity and grace, asking listeners to look deeper into the music rather than chasing instant gratification.
This single also sets the stage for Wells’ upcoming album Pictures of Heart, slated for release in 2026. If “True Blue Boy” is any indication, the record will continue her exploration of themes that define her work: resilience, hope, and the beauty found in both loss and love.
Annie Wells proves once again that her hybrid style, never fully jazz and never strictly pop, carves out a unique space where authenticity and artistry thrive. “True Blue Boy” is a love song, yes, but more than that, it’s a testament to patience, vulnerability, and the joy that comes from staying true to your vision.
Zillions Magazine About Us - October 09, 2025
Annie Wells delivers an ode to real love with timeless romance on "True Blue Boy" [Review]
Annie Wells comes back with "True Blue Boy," a song that sounds as though it could have been written in any era, and that's its charm. The Rochester-based singer-songwriter spins a personal story about the emotional process that led to her marriage, filling it with her characteristic blend of jazz, folk, and adult contemporary warmth.
The track's dreamy instrumentation hooks you in instantly, with Mike Kaupa's trumpet providing a golden-sorrow reminiscent of smoky jazz lounges and Dave Arenius' stand-up bass giving the song an honesty-soaked heartbeat. Phil Marshall's work on guitar ties it all together, understated while conveying a punch of emotional expression. Annie's vocals are luminous and relaxed, by turns graceful and vulnerable. Her delivery is welcoming, and you can feel the softness of devotion and a swallow's victory in long-lasting love. This is a mature sound one that's invested in storytelling and feeling.
This tune balances between ethereal and grounded as it suspends buoyancy in a downward pull that swings easily back to euphoria. It's dreamy and refreshingly original at once, evidence that there is still a place for timeless songwriting in our fast-paced digital world. And with her next single, Annie Wells continues down her path to a series of songs that showcase the full extent of her artistry. "True Blue Boy" is an ode to patience, faith, and the beauty of a real thing in a world that's hooked on temporary.
MJ Baretto
10.8.2025
Annie Wells Delights with "True Blue Boy" – Contemporary Jazz, Emotion and Elegance - Music for All
In “True Blue Boy,” Annie Wells transforms simplicity into refined art, crafting a song that sounds like both confidence and breath.
The track combines Singer-Songwriter, Adult Contemporary and Jazz in an arrangement that dialogues smoothly, creating an atmosphere of intimacy and affective maturity. Wells’ performance is restrained yet deeply expressive—each sentence carries the weight and lightness of someone who understands love without illusions. The guitar solo emerges as a luminous pause, punctuating the melody with elegance and balance.“True Blue Boy,” in the end, reaffirms Annie Wells as a sensitive composer, capable of transforming everyday life into sonic contemplation.
“Wells’ evocative piano accompaniment complements perfectly her reflective lyrics and expressive singing. She’s got a warm breathy delivery and she’s able to move easily from full deep notes to delicate ethereal highs. Her voice is amazing.”
- Chuck Cuminale, City Newpaper, Rochester, NY
“On each song, Annie Wells finds a new way to surprise her listeners. She stays cool, never using more volume than she needs. The passion doesn’t jump out at you; Wells asks you to look into the music and find it on your own. Easily bored by pop conventions, she screens her own songs for predictable melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic structures until they hold her interest from beginning to end.”
- H. B. Ward, City Newspaper, Rochester, NY
“With passionate singing and honest, gospel-tinged vocals, her sophisticated music echos that of Laura Nyro.”
- Greg Haymes, Albany Times Union
“A precise vocal style, whose angelic tones at times drift to the ethereal. [Wells’] arrangements bring to mind Canadian chanteuse Holly Cole, on the edge of jazz and pop.
- Jeff Spevak, Gannett News