ejnews

Judy Wexler has all the necessary ingredients a jazz singer requires and she uses them all in the hallmark of this recording, “Nobody Else But Me.” With a rapid fire delivery, Wexler puts this tune in the cosmos, right up there where Hammerstein/Kern reside, and I am sure they are more than pleased…Judy Wexler has a voice made for jazz.

– ejazznews.com

All Music Guide

…she successfully brings her interpretive powers to everything from Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright,” the Beatles’ “In My Life” and Henry Mancini’s “Moment to Moment” to Abbey Lincoln’s “I’m in Love.” Of course, having an interesting, far-reaching repertoire wouldn’t mean much if Wexler couldn’t sing—and thankfully, she has a big, appealing voice and a healthy sense of swing to go with her broad-minded song selection. Hard-swinging but with a definite romantic streak, Wexler is someone admirers of Abbey Lincoln or Dianne Reeves should have no problem getting into—and she’s someone who shows a lot of promise on her memorable debut album.

– All Music Guide

L.A. Daily News

Wexler doesn’t play the debut-disc game of most jazz vocalists by packing the playlist with ringers. Instead, this subtly powerful Glendale singer offers a satisfyingly challenging program of lesser-known gems… Wexler also proves she can handle bebop (Meredith D’Ambrosio’s “Gorgeous Creature”) and deliver the blues (with an Oscar Brown Jr. cover, no less). The one constant: a spot-on, expressive voice.

-L.A. Daily News

L.A. Jazz Scene

With her debut CD, Judy Wexler finally unlocks the secret that she’s been keeping hidden while performing for local audiences at venues around town. Her warm, expressive vocal interpretations give the session plenty to love. Wexler forges ahead into straight-ahead territory with her own personal stamp on each arrangement. The result is a lively session that’s filled with the spirit of the blues and the swinging rhythms of jazz. But it’s the singer’s vocal clarity, driving passion, and down to earth interpretations that make her debut a sure winner. Wexler convinces with a natural aura and a musically superior ambience.

– L.A. Jazz Scene

Seattle Times

After a phone interview with the fabulous new Los Angeles vocalist Judy Wexler, she sent me an e-mail of her five favorite jazz-vocal albums. Wexler had no idea I was going to print her list, but I thought it would give you a good idea just how hip she is: “Bittersweet,” Carmen McRae; Better Than Anything, Irene Kral (with the Junior Mance Trio); Annie Ross Sings a Song with Mulligan; Social Call, Betty Carter; (Tossup) Wholly Earth or You Gotta Pay the Band, Abbey Lincoln. Wexler’s “desert island discs” were no huge surprise, given her cool repertoire and dazzling technique on Easy on the Heart, her debut CD.

– Seattle Times

All About Jazz

This is one special jazz vocal debut album from Los Angeles area-based Judy Wexler. This album stands miles ahead in the proliferating femme jazz vocal field. I can only hope that it will find its way to the in-baskets of the various jazz radio programmers, and fast!

– All About Jazz

Jazziz

Easy on the Heart has one memorable performance after another. Wexler interprets the diverse material with sensitivity and understated swing, sticking to the lyrics and putting plenty of feeling into the words. Her handling of the difficult lyrics of Meredith D’Ambrosio’s “Gorgeous Creature” (which uses the chords of “Beautiful Love”) is impressive, as is her ability to stretch herself to include the Beatles’ “In My Life” and Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.

– Jazziz

All About Jazz

Her assertive, no-frills delivery is a dominant and pleasant feature in her singing, as it focuses our attention on the clear and lucid storytelling. The extras in her style are subtle, delicate, well-timed, purposeful and a testament to her good taste…she clearly knows what liberties to take, what lines to stretch and, more importantly, how to enchant us fully.

– All About Jazz

JazzTimes Blog

Wexler is one of those uncommon singers with the sensitive, tender feel to clearly express the emotion of a ballad like “Don’t Wait Too Long” and the tight, impeccable technique to swing in tunes like “The Great City.” Under a Painted Sky has a perfect balance between upbeat tunes and slow ballads. On either one, Wexler displays her distinctive style compounded of an elegant, exquisite phrasing and a gorgeous voice.

– JazzTimes Blog

Blogcritics.org

Her sensibilities as a singer are never demanding and she expresses herself beautifully through simple turns of phrase and straightforward expression. Under a Painted Sky continues the notion with gratifying simplicity. Singing tunes arranged by Alan Pasqua, Wexler pronounces elegantly and smiles her way through a dozen songs picked and arranged from various corners of the artistic world.

– Blogcritics.org