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Event
Judy Wexler CD Release: Crowded Heart
On CROWDED HEART, her 5th CD, vocalist Judy Wexler presents jazz standards for the 21st century, an anthology of ten timeless modern jazz compositions by contemporary songwriters, including Gregory Porter, Luciana Souza, Rene Marie, Fred Hersch, Larry Goldings, Alan Broadbent, Kurt Elling, and more. These tunes are the perfect vehicle for Wexlers warm, soulful voice and highly personal interpretations. Besides her sumptuous voice, Wexler is known for finding underexposed musical gems and for her ability to capture the meaning of a song and tell its story. In All About Jazz, Dan Bilawsky wrote, Judy Wexler is more than a mere singer of songs. Shes an actress, mood painter, song archaeologist, and vocalist par excellence. When Judy first conceived of this project, she reached out to jazz historian Ted Gioia, author of The Jazz Standards, for advice. He told her that jazz stays alive and becomes more than a history lesson or museum piece when a modern composition is embraced and recorded by many vocalists. Judy is doing her part to keep the music fresh and interesting by presenting on CROWDED HEART songs that she feels will withstand the test of time.
Out only two weeks, CROWDED HEART has received a profile on NPR Weekend Edition along with many stellar reviews. The CD hit #1 in Jazz on both Amazon and iTunes, and charted in Top Debuts on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Vocal Album chart. TUNE IN Thursday, June 19th at 9am to KCSM, where Judy will speak with Alisa Clancy about CROWDED HEART.
Judy Wexler has a terrific voice and shes done something fairly groundbreaking on her new album: She has selected 10 terrific little-known ballads by contemporary artists, and she clearly was governed by loveJudys passion for these songs is evident. She combines an emotional seriousness with a breezy feel and tremendous breath control. These songs are not easy to sing. Judys song choices are especially commendable. Many are melodically complex, but Judy aces them, taking her voice wherever it has to go to satisfy the music and win you over Brava, Judy!
Marc Myers, JazzWax (#1 jazz blog in America)
What a joy to listen to this album, both for the exquisite music-making of Judy Wexler and Alan Pasqua, but also for their astuteness in finding and featuring outstanding songs by current-day jazz composers. Highly recommended!
Ted Gioia, author of The History of Jazz and The Jazz Standards
Youre crowding my heartwith lovely, strong, breath-tightening, intoxicating emotions as I listen to the disc boy, is this good. And needed: youve done an extra service by putting together such a rich repertoire of modern music that will be brand-new to so many folks. So thanks for that as well.
Neil Tesser, Grammy Award & Recipient of Jazz Journalists Associations Lifetime Achievement Award in Jazz Journalism
Wexler and Pasqua have done todays jazz listeners a great service by artfully opening doors to material with which you may not have been familiar or havent spent enough time savoring.
Ken Franckling, Jazz Notes
Wexler shows a fondness for individualism and demonstrates a keen ear for strong material. She takes the road less traveled by focusing on the work of jazz composers thriving in the present. In doing so she magnifies the importance of these artists, highlights material worthy of greater attention, and elevates her own standing as a gifted stylist and interpreter.
Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz
An inordinately rewarding album
Andrew Gilbert, San Francisco Classical Voice
Crowded Heart shows Judy Wexler at her finest. Never one to overwhelm her songs with vocal trickery, Ms. Wexler caresses melodies, reaches for the emotional heart of each song, and gives listeners an experience that resonates beyond the recording, settling in ones own crowded heart.
Richard Kamins, Step Tempest
She is balletic light on her vocal feet, dead-on with her pitch, and lyrically smooth. She probes emotional depth and returns gems without melodrama. While hearts may indeed be crowded, this superb and original effort from a very talented and insightful artist and her cadre has certainly found its way into ours.
Nick Mondello, All About Jazz
Performing with Judy:
Keith Saunders on piano
Adam Gay on bass
Akira Tana on drums
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LocationThe Sound Room (View)
2147 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94612
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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