Judy Wexler takes a fresh approach to song selection with Crowded Heart

Wexler’s song choices are especially commendable. Many are melodically complex, but she aces them, taking her voice wherever it has to go to satisfy the music and win you over.
The track listing:
- Circus Life by Luciana Souza, Larry Klein and David Batteau
- Parisian Heartbreak by Richard Galliano and Kurt Elling
- Crowded Heart by Sinne Eeg and Mads Mathias
- Painted on Canvas by Gregory Porter
- Stars by Fred Hersch and Norma Winstone
- The Last Goodbye by Alan Broadbent and Georgia Mancio
- Take My Breath Away by René Marie
- I Took Your Hand by Enrico Pieranunzi and Lorraine Feather
- It’s Only Smoke by Larry Goldings and Cliff Goldmacher
- And We Will Fly by Alan Pasqua, Kurt Elling and Philip Edward Galdston
Wexler’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.
The album also sets a golden example for all singers who want to expand beyond the obvious and the mundane. You have to roll up your sleeves and do the research.