Rare is the jazz vocal CD that makes one stand up and take notice on the first hearing. But
Judy Wexler achieves that reaction with her brilliant
Dreams & Shadows, in part due to her instinctive ability to bring out the best in each song, often taking it into unfamiliar territory. The inventive arrangements by pianists
Alan Pasqua and
Jeff Colella (who alternate at the keyboard) are also an important factor, along with their use of key soloists to add flavor to each chart. There are a number of familiar favorites: the driving post-bop setting of "Comes Love" utilizing
Colella's altered harmonies; "If I Only Had a Brain" with
Wexler's playful vocal accented by the bird-like chirps of Bob Shepherd's soprano sax; and
Sonny Rollins' "Pent Up House," newly fitted with Jack Prather's lyrics and featuring
Wexler's deft re-creation of
Rollins' original solo. Several songs come from the world of pop.
Wexler's sensitive handling of
Pasqua's haunting arrangement of "One Less Bell to Answer" (a hit for
the 5th Dimension) and the sassy bossa nova scoring of "Spooky" (popularized by the long forgotten
Classics IV) accented by
Gilbert Castellanos' sinewy muted trumpet are examples of looking for material in unexpected places. Her sensual rendition of
Victor Young's "Dreams & Shadows (Delilah)" and engaging scatting in
Jerome Kern's "In Love in Vain" revive two gems by two masters of the Great American Songbook.
Judy Wexler deserves widespread recognition for her outstanding CD. ~ Ken Dryden