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Ben Wolfe: The Whisperer
ByWolfe's partners on The Whispererpianist Orrin Evans, drummer Donald Edwards and saxophonist Stacy Dillardmight not be as world-renowned as Krall, Marsalis and company, but they're prodigiously talented. Like Wolfe they all have impeccable taste, never over-playing, always supportive of each other. Evans' comping is a masterclass in timing and effectiveness, Edwards is equally capable of combining with Wolfe to create and maintain the pulse or to spring from Wolfe's steady bass rhythm to weave his percussion around the melody.
Wolfe's talents as a writer are also much in evidencewith the exception of a mournful take on Jerome Kern's "All The Things You Are" the tunes are Wolfe's own. "Hat In Hand" and "Camelot's Lean," featuring Dillard on soprano, demonstrate the quartet's laid-back, controlled, playing. The sound becomes noticeably warmer when Dillard moves to tenor sax on the melancholy "Love Is Near," Dillard's silky tone giving the number a softness that contrasts with the cooler soprano.
"Heroist," anchored by Evans' emphatic left hand and featuring Dillard's wildest soprano, "The Balcony"tenor and piano interweaving melodies built on the pulse of bass and drumsand the moody "Chronos" showcase a more up-tempo side. "The Whisperer" is a mid-tempo swingerWolfe and Edwards set up a sense of urgency, Evans' comping evokes added suspense and Dillard's tenor completes the noir-ish atmosphere. For drama, it's the album's star attraction.
Trumpeter Josh Evans joins in for "S.T.F.U." Over Edwards and Wolfe's bouncing, cheerful, rhythm, Dillard's soprano and Evans' trumpet engage in a conversation, or perhaps it's an argument, before coming together for the closing section. As for the rather enigmatic title"Some Things Feel Unusual," or "Sunny Times For Us" perhaps? It doesn't really matter: probably best to keep quiet about it. The Whisperer, by contrast, deserves to have its appearance shouted from the rooftops: a fine recording.
Track Listing
Heroist; Hat In Hand; Community; Love Is Near; S.T.F.U.; Camelot's Lean; Chronos; All The Things You Are; The Whisperer; Becoming Brothers; The Balcony; If Only.
Personnel
Ben Wolfe
bassBen Wolfe: bass; Orrin Evans: piano; Stacy Dillard: soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone; Donald Edwards: drums; Josh Evans: trumpet (5).
Album information
Title: The Whisperer | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Posi-Tone Records