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“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, with the aid of Alan Pasqua, gives listeners an experience that resonates beyond the recording, settling in one’s own crowded heart.
– Richard Kamins, Step Tempest
Judy Wexler has a terrific voice and she’s 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 love…Judy’s 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. And with Pasqua’s arrangements and exquisite instrumental backing, the album pays homage to those who are writing smart jazz songs today… Judy’s 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)
Wexler and Pasqua have done today’s jazz listeners a great service by artfully opening doors to material with which you may not have been familiar – or haven’t spent enough time savoring.”
Judy Wexler displays excellent taste in not only song selection, but in the delivery of material beyond the standards… A voice as clear as a windswept night.
A sumptuous redefinition of jazz standards… One of the fascinating aspects of “Crowded Heart” is how Wexler manages to make the songs on the recording sound both new and familiar.
I love albums that have a sustained vibe, and yours hangs together beautifully as a complete creation. You have made an excellent case for the survival of interesting jazz songwriting, and you’ve let the songs shine in ways that, without a doubt, have made their composers very happy.
– James Gavin, author of Is That All There Is: The Strange Life of Peggy Lee
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.
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.
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
