Peter Eldridge, Kenny Werner: Somewhere

Singer Peter Eldridge, founding member of the famed New York Voices, and veteran pianist and composer Kenny Werner, a world-class performer for over 40 years, finally come together for a collaboration of talent and song that has been percolating for nearly a decade. The result is the incredible, sophisticated harmonic treasure Somewhere, a masterful fusion of song, talent and magic, nicely wrapped in an audacious eleven-track vocal album.

The breadth of the project was not fully known to the singer and only revealed upon arrival at the studio when confronted with a 40-piece orchestra. Thus, the musical backup comprised a 20-piece string section (the Fantastical String Orchestra) in addition to featured artists Yoron Israel on drums, Matt Aronoff on bass and special guest George Garzone on the tenor saxophone ("Ballad for Trane"), all combining to make this recording outstanding in every way.

Although this album contains a few well-known classics and standards—such as the medley "Somewhere" and "A Time For Love," the Ivan Lins standard "Minds of Their Own," and the opening Cindy Walker & Eddie Arnold classic "You Don't Know Me"—the majority of the music reveals many Eldridge and Werner originals with arrangements provided by the pianist.

It is more than an album of ballads and love songs, it is a musical experience reflecting the many faces of life from love to joy, from lament to "That Which Can't be Explained," a delicious number. Somewhere delivers a ton of enjoyable music showcasing Eldridge's unique vocals and Werner's exceptional skills for an all-round killer of a recording.