April 2008
Dreams & Shadows benefits from fresh song choices that smartly highlight Wexlers talents. She covers two songs by Blossom Dearie, warm tributes from her to a fellow singer, and two infrequently covered standards, Harold Arlens "If I Only Had a Brain" and Jerome Kerns "In Love In Vain." Her take on "Spookie," the '60s hit for the Classics IV, is cool and sexy, and her moving version of "One Less Bell to Answer" avoids the maudlin clichés other singers have fallen prey to. Wexlers readings are dramatic, but she never overwhelms or over emotes. Wexler is surrounded by very strong musicians throughout Dreams & Shadows, including Jo LaBarbera on drums, pianists Alan Pasqua and Jeff Colella, and Bob Shepard on reeds. Pasqua and Colella have prepared swinging, tasteful arrangements for her and she delivers. Beautifully mastered by Ron McMaster, the sound on Dreams & Shadows is very good -- open and expansive. Some buzz seems to be building around Wexler and, for once, its deserved. GO BACK TO: |