Yes, Dearie! Kylie Blossoms at Finland Jazz Festival

Kylie Minogue’s musical versatility was once again on display at the Pori Jazz Festival in Finland. She has never shied away from straight-up jazz, such as on “Stay This Way” or when she appeared on an episode of “Later… with Jools Holland,” where she performed an impressive cover of (Lena Horne’s) “Come On Strong.”

Yet seemingly her jazz inspiration comes from a woman named Blossom Dearie, an American singer and pianist in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Dearie had a wonderfully unique vocal style: light; airy; with a childlike quality. (In the ‘70s, Dearie lent her voice to the “Schoolhouse Rock!” series of animated educational shorts that appeared as interludes during Saturday-morning cartoons. Her sweet voice can be heard on “Unpack your Adjectives,” for example.)

Over the last 10 years, Kylie has covered some of Dearie’s jazz tracks, two of which were in Kylie’s 2007 documentary-concert film, White Diamond: “I’m Hip” and “Try Your Wings.” Her vocal on “Wings” is comforting, like a hug when it’s needed, a fuzzy blanket when it’s cold, a whiskey in winter.

And finally, to Finland, where Kylie took a break to honor Dearie, with “Peel Me A Grape,” a delightfully bratty song, similar to “Santa Baby,” about a woman’s relationship demands: “Pop me a cork/French me a fry” and the playfully entitled list goes on. It’s a confident, inspiring display of this pop singer’s talent, ear and love for a music format, different from the one she’s most known for, as well as yet another lovely homage to an artist with whom many may not be familiar.

Dearie performs the track live at the piano: