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Ben Wendel: All One

By Jerome Wilson
June 7, 2023
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Saxophonist

Ben Wendel

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Wendel came up with a unique approach for this album of duets. He plays with a different musician on each of these six tracks, but while his guests stick to their primary instruments, Wendel fills in the space around them with multiple saxophone and bassoon parts, electronic effects, and percussion.

The most conventional results of this approach are heard in the two vocal tracks.

Cecile McLorin Salvant

vocals
b.1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Cecile McLorin Salvant's sensitive singing on "I Loves You Porgy" and

José James

vocals
b.1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Jos�� James' soulful baritone on "Tenderly" are each supported by a dense wall of reeds that approximate the massed harmonies of a pipe organ. Wendel also solos on these tracks, playing a line of tenor sax that rises up to complement the voices.

On "In Anima"

Tigran Hamasyan

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Tigran Hamasyan's dark, repeating piano chords dialogue with waves of processed, moaning saxophones and a ghostly tenor briefly plunges through the din.

Terence Blanchard

trumpet
b.1962

" data-original-title="" title="">Terence Blanchard's trumpet goes through processing on "Wanderers" as it bounces against a Philip Glass-like background of repeating sax notes. Blanchard gets to soar melodically in multiple tracks before rolling over a chorus of chattering bassoons. By contrast, on "Speak Joy"

Elena Pinderhughes

flute

" data-original-title="" title="">Elena Pinderhughes, is mostly a single bright flute voice that holds its own against more minimalist repetitions and Wendel's ponderous solo bassoon blasts.

Bill Frisell

guitar, electric
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Frisell is no stranger to electronic looping and manipulation and he sounds at home sliding his way through his own composition, "Throughout." His guitar lyrically navigates Wendel's gently waving reed atmosphere, melting naturally into it as Wendel plays his most eloquent tenor statements of the album.

Ben Wendel has shown his ability as a player before but the concept and arranging of this ambitious project is new territory for him. He creates a lot of stimulating settings for his collaborators to work with and emerges with lovely and distinctive music.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

I Loves You Porgy; Wanderers; Throughout; Speak Joy; Tenderly; In Anima.

Personnel

Ben Wendel

saxophone, tenor

Cecile McLorin Salvant

vocals

Terence Blanchard

trumpet

Bill Frisell

guitar, electric

Elena Pinderhughes

flute

Jos�� James

vocals

Tigran Hamasyan

piano

Additional Instrumentation

Ben Wendel: bassoon, EFX, hand percussion; Cecile McLorin Salvant (1); Terence Blanchard (2); Bill Frisell (3); Elena Pinderhughes (4); Jose James (5); Tigran Hamasyan (6).

Album information

Title: All One | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Edition Records

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