On the album, Alexander is accompanied by a core group consisting of pianist Miguel Delacerna, double bassist Harrison Bankhead, and drummer Yuseff Ernie Adams, plus six guest artists: cellist Tomeka Reid, guitarist Scott Hesse, double bassist Junius Paul, saxophonists Ari Brown and Oliver Lake, and trumpeter Corey Wilkes.

"[6] In a review for All About Jazz, Dan Bilawsky wrote: "Alexander puts her own spin on classics and infrequently-performed winners that her mother enjoys, giving every single number a new lease on life...

While Dee Alexander is rightly viewed as a musical treasure in her hometown of Chicago, albums like this... should go a long way in expanding her reach.

"[7] Christopher Loudon of JazzTimes called the album "nearly flawless," and described the players as "a stellar assortment of musicians."

He commented: "Simply put, Songs My Mother Loves is a top contender for this year’s finest vocal release.