Judy Wexler: No Wonder

Judy Wexler's release No Wonder is a portrait in vocal jazz artistry, underscored by thoughtful arrangements from pianist and arranger Jeff Colella and a luminous supporting cast of Los Angeles A-list musicians including multi-instrumentalists Danny Janklow, and Bob Sheppard, trumpeter Jay Jennings guitarist Larry Koonse, bassist Gabe Davis and drummer Steve Hass.

The twelve-tune track list is a refreshingly curated program of standards that steer away from the overly familiar, instead embracing the "hipper" corners of the repertoire. The title track, "No Wonder," kicks off the proceedings. It falls into the storytelling category of an out-of-the-mainstream composition written and arranged by the singer/songwriter Luciana Souza. Wexler brings the narrative to life, revealing layers of meaning within the material. Michel Legrand's "The Summer Knows" arranged by Colella, in which Wexler, with her warm voice, makes the lyrics her own and brings a sense of longing to the interpretation.

"You Stepped Out Of A Dream" was written by Nacio Herb Brown and Gus Khan and was the centerpiece of the 1941 film "Ziegfeld Girl." Capitalizing on her talent for bringing depth and color to familiar standards, Wexler breathes new life into this well-worn charmer. Throughout the session, Colella's arrangements are a marvel of textural interplay, allowing Janklow and Sheppard to contribute seamlessly and with versatility. The other ensemble members make their mark with elegance, sensitivity, and introspection, reflected in a cohesive artistic statement.

Turning to a jazz-influenced number, pianist Cedar Walton wrote a hard-bop burner called "Firm Roots," to which Kitty Margolis wrote lyrics and retitled the number "Firm Roots ( Are What You Need To Win)." Wexler imbues this up-tempo swinger with verve and playfulness as Jennings delivers his solo with a burnished tone, and Hass propels the chart with a subtle yet driving foundation. Canada's iconic poet/troubadour Leonard Cohen wrote "Dance Me to the End of Love." The underlying story of this composition is grounded in tragedy, but Wexler's interpretation avoids the maudlin with a vocal filled with quiet urgency. Pianist/singer/songwriter Blossom Dearie composed "I Wish You Love," on which Wexler captures a groove with subtle twists of phrasing, judicious use of dynamics and a vocalese solo with Janklow.

The album closes with "The Night We Called It a Day," which Frank Sinatra covered in his first solo recording in 1942 for Bluebird Records. Accompanied by only the rhythm section, Wexler offers the vocal with an emotional incisiveness that reveals layers of meaning in the lyrics.

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