Listen: Saxophonist Grace Kelly finds her 'True Love' of Hollywood classics

This is an exclusive song premiere, part of WBUR's effort to highlight New England musicians.

When saxophonist and singer Grace Kelly was growing up in Brookline, her family’s favorite way to spend a Friday night was dinner at Ming Garden followed by a video rental from Blockbuster.

Both of those businesses are long gone, but the memory of one of those movies has lasted for the musician: seeing the actress Grace Kelly (who later married Prince Rainier of Monaco) duet with Bing Crosby in the 1956 film “High Society.” Now, Kelly is covering their duet from that film, Cole Porter’s “True Love,” on her new album “Grace Kelly with Strings: At The Movies.”

“I became completely enamored with Grace Kelly — she was true elegance,” recalls the saxophonist, who, to the chagrin of her teachers, started signing her name “Princess Grace Kelly.” (The musician was not named after the actress, but it became her legal name when her mother remarried.)

The song was also a prime showcase for Crosby, who despite being mostly associated with Hollywood is considered one of the great vocal talents of the 20th century by many jazz critics. “He's got such an incredible tone, phrasing and delivery,” says Kelly.

The strings album is Kelly’s return to jazz after releasing a variety of other projects in recent years, and the first time she’s recorded with a large ensemble. The record came about after the Irvine Barclay Theatre in California asked Kelly to create a special show. “I had always loved 'Charlie Parker with Strings' and Stan Getz’s ‘Focus’ album, which also used strings,” she says. The studio session happened the day after the concert in what Kelly says was “one intense weekend.”

The tracks range from cinema classics by Ennio Morricone and Henry Mancini to a funky “The Power of Love” (written by Huey Lewis & The News for “Back to the Future”). Kelly and producer Bryan Carter selected a number of string arrangers with a focus on emerging talents. “True Love” was arranged by Matt Wong, a young artist who recently helped orchestrate Jon Batiste’s symphonic work. “I made the arrangers these little videos with some ideas, and it was amazing to see what they came back with,” says Kelly.

In “High Society,” the Hollywood stars gently crooned “True Love” to each other while cocooned on the high seas. Kelly kept that magic while taking the song in a new direction. “Something I always think about when I'm covering songs — especially songs that are just done so well in their classic rendition — is how can we change this up. How can we Grace-ify it?” she laughs.

Kelly’s new version starts with lush strings before she starts singing accompanied by the piano of Tamir Hendelman. As the rhythm section comes in, the strings swell and Kelly plays a dreamy sax solo.

“In the beginning, we want to pay homage to the original by stating the melody, and then we take it for a whole other kind of ride,” says Kelly. “You have the strings coming in and out, the beat is changing, and by the end of the song we’re weaving together the voices of the strings, the vocals and the saxophone.”

At the end, the rhythm section drops out and it’s just Kelly’s voice, Hendelman’s piano and the strings. “I wanted to end it again with that very pure feeling, and there's nothing like stripping everything down, especially when you have so many options of colors,” says Kelly.

Kelly will be joined by strings when she celebrates the recording at the Regent Theatre in Arlington on April 11. She says this project brings her full circle from an appearance she made with the Boston Pops when she was 13. “I just remember this feeling of being on stage with one of the best orchestras in the world and how heavenly it felt.”

“Grace Kelly with Strings: At The Movies” is out March 1. Kelly appears at the Regent Theatre in Arlington on April 11.