The CD opens with one of the vocal tracks, “What More
Could One Man Want?” This was written by David Wise, though it has a
wonderfully familiar vibe and sound, and I’m surprised I hadn’t heard it
before. It just has that feel of being a song that’s already made a home for
itself in my life. You know? Jason Joseph provides the lead vocals on this
track, with Laura Mace backing him. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “If you’re by my side/Then even that would be
much more than I deserved/What more could one man want?” Ah, I’m happy to say
I know just how he feels. This song also features some nice work on keys by Amy
K. Bormet. Josh Smith joins the group on guitar, playing that great solo
partway through, and this track also features Mitchell Cooper on trumpet, Glenn
Morrissette on alto sax and R.W. Enoch on tenor sax. I would not be surprised
if this song became a standard in the years to come.
“Sylvia” then follows with some sweet, romantic tones on
saxophone. This track also features Mikala Schmitz on cello, an instrument I’m
always happy to hear. This is a beautiful piece, with something of a 1940s
feel, and I really like the percussion. David Wise then plays one of the album’s
covers, a rendition of “Here’s That Rainy Day,” written by Jimmy Van Heusen and
Johnny Burke. It’s a song that’s been covered by a wide range of artists over
the years, and here David Wise gives it his own personal spin. It has a kind of
peppy romantic feel, and features a very cool bass line by Alex Frank (there is
even a bass solo in the second half of the song), and some great work by Bruce
Forman on guitar. And to top it off, there is a groovy drum solo by Jake Reed.
This version should have you feeling good. The album’s other cover is “Kol
Nidre,” a traditional piece for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It’s
presented as a solo on saxophone.
“Till They Lay Me Down,” the album’s title track, is
probably my favorite. This one makes me feel seriously damn good, even in the
days before the inauguration of that horrid creature (I keep trying to put that
out of my mind, but keep failing). There is even a cool bass solo. But it’s
David Wise’s smooth, intimate, expressive and groovy sax that is at the heart
of this piece and makes it something special. Somehow this tune is giving me
hope (though perhaps this bottle of Italian wine is also contributing to that
feeling). That is followed by a track titled “Lullaby,” and it does feel like a
gentle late-night piece, letting us know the world is okay, that it’s safe to
go to sleep, that the world will still be here in the morning.
The CD then concludes with two tracks featuring vocals, “Life
Is But A Song, Parts 1 & 2” and “Life Is But A Song, Part 3.” David Wise
himself provides the vocals for these two tracks, though the lyrics for the
first track were co-written by Amy K. Bormet. Mikala Schmitz joins the group on cello for that first one. The second track has a cheerful
vibe, and features Mitchell Cooper on trumpet. “So happy I have you in my life/So thankful
to have you in my heart.” Yes, it’s a happy, slightly cheesy song, but I’m
in touch with this. And for all of us who have a special someone, it’s good to
regularly remind him or her just how you feel. If you don’t feel like saying
it, for whatever reason, then play your loved one this song.
CD Track List
- What More Could One Man Want?
- Sylvia
- Here’s That Rainy Day
- Home
- Kol Nidre
- Till They Lay Me Down
- Lullaby
- Life Is But A Song, Parts 1 & 2
- Life Is But A Song, Part 3
Till They Lay Me
Down was released on January 6, 2017.
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