He & Me
Self-Released, 2020
8/10
The esteemed singer and lyricist Ada Bird Wolfe is aligned with pianist and arranger Jamieson Trotter here, and together the pair deliver jazz standards and originals across a dozen well crafted tracks.
“Mind To Mind (ESP)”, a Wayne Shorter tune where Wolfe was given permission to add lyrics, starts the listen with jumpy keys as Wolfe’s soulful, smooth vocals enter the warm jazz setting, and “Night In Tunisia” follows with mature songwriting as graceful piano complements the radiant landscape.
The middle of the listen offers some of the best tracks, including the playful Portuguese singing of the dance friendly “Logo Eu”, while the original “Too Much Stuff” moves cautiously with bursts of firm musicianship. “Blue And Green/All Blues” then gets quite introspective as Wolfe’s expressive alto guides the dynamic keys.
As we get to the end, “But Beautiful” brings much romance with its sublime delivery, and “Done With That” exits the listen upbeat with piano acrobatics amid Wolfe’s inimitable timbre.
Wolfe and Trotter work together with divine chemistry on He & Me, as each song is precisely built and executed with adventurousness, timelessness and first rate jazz and blues sounds.
Travels well with: John Daversa Quintet- Cuarentena; David Sills- Natural Lines