Deserves all the awards going for arranging All One has many icons of the music as guests of the Canada born saxist-composer Ben Wendel's. So these are of course of interest in themselves given the presence of among others Bill Frisell, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Terence Blanchard, José James, Elena Pinderhughes and Tigran Hamasyan.
The arrangement of Bill Frisell's 'Throughout' (a piece that appeared on 1983's In Line way back at the beginning of the guitarist's headlining career) is if push comes to shove tops for us among the tracks tied with José James' perfect vocal on 'Tenderly'. Wendel folds in so much of his panoramic instrumentalism here and the repertoire spans music by the Gershwins, Wendel originals and that Walter Gross/Jack Lawrence evergreen that James so winningly interprets. Ingeniously produced across an array of studio locations the sonics are warm and tactile a testament to recent production innovation and the skill in deploying such. All the disparate elements come together and deliver a positive outcome that glistens at ever turn.
MORE LISTENING:
Wendel is on Tom Ollendorff's upcoming album Open House. 'Tenderly,' 'Throughout,' 'Wanderers' and the Elena Pinderhughes flute feature 'Speak Joy' are streaming. On 'Tenderly' here. Ben Wendel, photo: All One sleeve detail
Out on Friday
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