Judy Wexler (vocals); Alan Pasqua (piano/melodica); Larry Koonse (guitar); Bob Sheppard (alto flute); Darek Oles (bass); Steve Hass (drums); Stefanie Fife (cello); Josh Johnson (alto sax); Aaron Serfaty (perc.).
(Review by Lance)
Crowded Heart somehow got lost in transit in the journey from my mailbox to the Victrola and, as such, I'm a few weeks late in posting a review. In the meantime, it has hit the number one spot of both the 1tunes and Amazon Jazz Charts - this without my help!
Subtitled Jazz Standards for the 21st Century, it's a poignant disc full of songs of love lost, love found, modern life, dreams that didn't come true, chance meetings, sex - the whole 9 yards of emotion. Songs of today.
Circus Life, a samba, relates to the insanity of modern life it's one of the few bright sounding numbers.
Parisian Heartbreak by Richard Galliano has lyrics by Kurt Elling and, as the title implies, is the complete opposite to April in Paris or any other Parisian songs you care to mention.
Crowded Heart by Danish vocalist Sinne Eeg has lyrics by Mads Mathias and deals with the end of an adulterous love affair.
Gregory Porter composed music and lyrics for Painted on Canvas making the point that a person's life is enhanced by the people and experiences one embraces - well er maybe.
Norma Winstone provided the words to Fred Hersch's Stars and Wexler's approach to these songs mirrors Winstone's in many ways.
Another British vocalist, Georgia Mancio provided the lyrics and Alan Broadbent the music to The Last Goodbye. The duo released their own version a couple of years back.
Take My Breath Away positively sizzles it took my breath away - I needed a cold shower! Sexy and suggestive lyric by French singer René Marie.
I Took Your Hand. Lorraine Feather's lyric tells the story of a woman who goes to a ball (as they do) and falls in love with a masked reveller (as they don't - not that I've ever been to a masked ball, perhaps my luck will turn if I do!)
It's Only Smoke. "I keep dreaming of a fire, but when I wake up to the cold It's only smoke" Music by Larry Goldings words by Cliff Goldmacher.
Pianist Pasqua composed And We Will Fly with more words from Elling and, at long last, a song of optimism. Beautiful intro from Koonse.
An album that deserves its popularity. Rarely heard songs from recent years but worthy of a place in the Great American Song Book Vol. 2 (or perhaps it should be the Great World Songbook given that we have songs from France, Venezuela, Great Britain, Denmark, New Zealand, Italy and, of course, USA. Wexler has the perfect voice for the material and has a band of outstanding soloists who make the most of their limited opportunities.
A gem.
Lance.
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