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Judy Wexler

Los Angeles-based vocalist Judy Wexler has been garnering rave reviews and fans across the country and around the world. A touring and recording artist, she has headlined at jazz festivals, performing arts centers and major jazz clubs both nationally and internationally. She has a pliably warm, lustrous sound and displays an unerring ear for underexposed gems. She began studying music at a very young age and spent her early years training in theater and performing in plays, musicals and television — skills which have helped make her a consummate interpreter of lyrics. All About Jazz says, “Judy Wexler is more than a mere singer of songs, she is an actress, mood painter, song archaeologist and vocalist par excellence.”

Her fifth CD, a collaboration with piano great Alan Pasqua called Crowded Heart (June 2019, Jewel City Jazz), presents “jazz standards for the 21st century,” an anthology of ten modern jazz compositions by contemporary songwriters. Ted Gioia, author of The Jazz Standards and The History of Jazz says, “What a joy to listen to this album, both for the exquisite music-making of Judy Wexler and Alan Pasqua, but also for their astuteness in finding and featuring outstanding songs by current-day jazz composers. Highly recommended!” Judy’s other CDs include What I See (2013), Under a Painted Sky (2011), Dreams & Shadows (2008), and her debut, Easy on the Heart (2005). All of Judy’s CDs have topped the national JazzWeek radio charts and received enthusiastic reviews, including a profile on NPR Weekend Edition with Susan Stamberg, who said, “From the evidence on her new second album, Dreams & Shadows, Judy Wexler can sing almost anything.”

Past performances include the Montreal Jazz Festival, Tel Aviv Jazz Festival, Dubai Jazz Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival, Birdland, The Blue Note and Jazz at Kitano (New York City), Scullers (Boston), Jazz Alley (Seattle), Yoshi’s (San Francisco), Blues Alley (Washington, D.C.), Nardis Jazz Club (Istanbul), and Upstairs Jazz Club (Montreal), among many others.

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6
Album Review

Judy Wexler: Back to the Garden

Read "Back to the Garden" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci


Man, if you can pick a tougher project to sell to an aging Boomer than Judy Wexler's Back to the Garden, then you will have to say what it might be. For a lot of the Swinging and Breathing Elderly, this music is intensely personal. Not just where were you, or who were you with? But what were you doing? And most of all, why? Not everyone was a protester or a demonstrator, much less a hippie. Not everyone made ...

5
Album Review

Judy Wexler: Back to the Garden

Read "Back to the Garden" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello


A glance at the tracks on this album might make one think that it is a well-selected gathering of '60s message tunes from compilation stalwart, Rhino Records. That not being the case, rest assured that Back to the Garden presents those iconic Pop selections so incredibly re- imagined that what we experience could easily be considered “new selections." Judy Wexler--petite in stature, but tremendously talented and agile in artistry--and her cadre of LA's best, delivers her finest performance ...

3
Album Review

Judy Wexler: Crowded Heart

Read "Crowded Heart" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


For her fifth album, Judy Wexler has embraced a concept that's oddly foreign in the jazz vocal realm. Instead of walking her way down the all-too-familiar avenues for singers—classic Broadway-cum-jazz material, canonical works written by revered jazz figures, pop tunes reshaped with harmonic facelifts, self-penned originals—she takes the road less traveled by focusing on the work of jazz composers thriving in the present. In doing so she magnifies the importance of these artists, highlights material worthy of greater attention, and ...

1
Album Review

Judy Wexler: Crowded Heart

Read "Crowded Heart" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello


"Tribute," “re-imagined," “remembered," “Great American Songbook." You won't see or hear those words anywhere on Crowded Heart, Judy Wexler's fifth and best effort to date. What you will hear are 10 sublime cuts from some of the finest composers and lyricists in the game. Here Wexler revels in songs where romance and all of its kaleidoscopic intersections are the order of the day. “Circus Life," the opener, is a samba with Wexler spinning the tale of life's ...

2
Album Review

Judy Wexler: What I See

Read "What I See" reviewed by Florence Wetzel


One of the deepest relationships in jazz blossomed on the West Coast in the 1950s, when singer June Christy and arranger Pete Rugolo combined their gifts on numerous albums. Christy supplied the voice and the heart, which Rugolo set off to perfection with exquisite, often surprising arrangements. The deep understanding between the two artists was particularly evident in their choice of songs; both had an eye for the unusual and the neglected, as well as lyrics that conveyed emotions of ...

2
Album Review

Judy Wexler: What I See

Read "What I See" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Vocalist Judy Wexler has already garnered much attention among the All About Jazz family of critics, having been covered by the likes of colleagues Dan Bilawsky and Nicholas F. Mondello. They both remark on the breadth of Wexler's repertoire, which is impressive. Rather than browbeating us with one more collection of songs inhabiting Scott Yanow's moratorium list from his 2008 compendium, The Jazz Singers: The Ultimate Guide (Backbeat Books), Wexler seeks out less heard songs to nudge to the forefront ...

2
Album Review

Judy Wexler: What I See

Read "What I See" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello


When they excavated the world-famous La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles, scientists discovered an other-worldly array of fossilized treasures. Who would have thought that, millennia ago, in the middle of Tinseltown, saber-toothed tigers and mammoths were sashaying down Rodeo Drive? In an analogous way, What I See from Judy Wexler yields surprisingly terrific finds, primarily from material that has been available right in front but overlooked. A very fine vocal talent also surfaces.With this, her fourth CD, ...

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1

Interview

Interview: Judy Wexler

Interview: Judy Wexler

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

It's tricky business jazzing up the music of 1960s singer-songwriters. Most efforts either wind up a pale reproduction or they try too hard to swing the originals. Every so often, however, an album comes along that hits the tone just right. Vocalist Judy Wexler's new Back to the Garden (Jewel City) is one of these just-right albums. Out today, the recording breathes fresh life into songs and gives them a jazz feel with the elegance and sensitivity they deserve. Much ...

6

Recording

On Her 5th CD, 'Crowded Heart,' Vocalist Judy Wexler Presents New Jazz Standards For The 21st Century

On Her 5th CD, 'Crowded Heart,' Vocalist Judy Wexler Presents New Jazz Standards For The 21st Century

Source: Mouthpiece Music

On Crowded Heart, vocalist Judy Wexler presents an anthology of ten jazz compositions by current songwriters that she feels deserve a place in the “new jazz standards repertoire.” Arranged by piano great Alan Pasqua and featuring a band that comprises some of the finest, first-call musicians in Southern California, these tunes are the perfect vehicle for Wexler’s warm, soulful voice and highly personal interpretations. This is Wexler’s fifth CD since her 2005 release of Easy on the Heart. Each of ...

Recording

Vocalist Judy Wexler Releases New Cd - What I See - On Jazzed Media

Vocalist Judy Wexler Releases New Cd - What I See - On Jazzed Media

Source: Judy Wexler

Judy Wexler’s fourth and newest CD, What I See (Jazzed Media, September 10, 2013 drop date) follows her acclaimed 2011 release, Under a Painted Sky (4-star review in Downbeat, top 10 on JazzWeek radio chart), and 2008’s Dreams & Shadows (profiled on NPR, debuted at #2 on JazzWeek) with another stunning, out-of-the-box collection of tunes. Since releasing Easy on the Heart in 2005, Wexler hasn’t wasted a moment establishing herself as one of the music’s most incisive and engaging vocalists. ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz Vocalist Judy Wexler Announces East Coast Dates In October

Jazz Vocalist Judy Wexler Announces East Coast Dates In October

Source: Judy Wexler

Los Angeles vocalist Judy Wexler, whose 3rd CD, “Under a Painted Sky," was released last year to glowing notices, will be singing in New York at the Kitano Hotel on Wednesday, October 17th and at An Die Musik in Baltimore on Thursday, October 18th, 2012. Appearing with her will be pianist Mark Soskin, a stellar NYC player who has performed or recorded with such a diverse group of musicians such as Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, Tony Williams, Sheila Jordan, New ...

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Performance / Tour

L.A.-Based Jazz Vocalist Judy Wexler Announces May Dates in New York and Boston

L.A.-Based Jazz Vocalist Judy Wexler Announces May Dates in New York and Boston

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity

Los Angeles vocalist Judy Wexler, whose third CD Under a Painted Sky was released last year to glowing notices, will be making a rare East Coast foray in May. Her Boston debut will take place on Wednesday 5/9 at Scullers, and she's scheduled a return visit to New York City, where she's performed on several previous occasions, for a performance at Birdland on Thursday 5/10 (6pm set). Appearing with her at both shows will be pianist Jeff Colella, a stellar ...

64

Performance / Tour

Judy Wexler East Coast Tour | New CD, "Under a Painted Sky"

Judy Wexler East Coast Tour | New CD, "Under a Painted Sky"

Source: Judy Wexler

Judy Wexler East Coast Tour in support of her new CD, “Under a Painted Sky" Judy's latest CD, “Under a Painted Sky," released on the Jazzed Media label, charted at #9 in national jazz airplay, and remained on the JazzWeek chart for three months since its release in June 2011. “Under a Painted Sky" marries Judy's expressive storytelling and out-of-the-box song selections with the richly harmonic arrangements of pianist Alan Pasqua. Her most personal and compelling release to date, John ...

145

Recording

Singer Judy Wexler's "Under a Painted Sky" Debuts June 14 (Jazzed Media)

Singer Judy Wexler's "Under a Painted Sky" Debuts June 14 (Jazzed Media)

Source: Michael Bloom Media Relations

Singer Judy Wexler's UNDER A PAINTED SKY (Jazzed Media, June 14 release) follows her acclaimed Dreams and Shadows (profiled on NPR, reached #2 on the JazzWeek Radio Chart) with another marvelous, out-of-the-box collection of tunes. Once again the band is anchored and organized by piano great Alan Pascua. With contributions fromtop tier musicians like Bob Mintzer, Bob Sheppard, and Alex Acuna, the music here shows what happens when some of the best, most creative forces in jazz work together. Judy ...

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Performance / Tour

Judy Wexler's "Talkin' About My Generation" at Vitello's March 24th

Judy Wexler's "Talkin' About My Generation" at Vitello's March 24th

Source: Michael Bloom Media Relations

Judy Wexler makes her debut at Vitello's Upstairs with a new show called “Talkin' About My Generation," featuring music from the 60's-70's, with songs by Richie Havens, the Zombies, Procol Harum, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Donovan, Melanie, and many more. “Talkin' About My Generation" sets out to capture the musical zeitgeist of the times with a distinctive jazz twist, taking the audience on an adventure through psychedelia, the sexual revolution, social commentary, and protest songs. Judy is backed by Jeff ...

126

Performance / Tour

Acclaimed Jazz Vocalist Judy Wexler at Feinstein's at Loews Regency

Acclaimed Jazz Vocalist Judy Wexler at Feinstein's at Loews Regency

Source: Miller Wright & Associates

FEINSTEIN’S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed “Best of New York” by New York Magazine, and “an invaluable New York institution” by The New York Post, continues its 10th Anniversary season with the debut of critically acclaimed vocalist, JUDY WEXLER as she celebrates the release of her latest CD, Dreams and Shadows with songs by Irving Berlin and Jerome Kern to Oscar Brown Jr., Bob Dylan, Burt Bacharach and Abbey Lincoln. The show, which features Jeff Colella on piano, Bill ...

122

Recording

Judy Wexler Sings "Dreams & Shadows" - Coming March 18th

Judy Wexler Sings "Dreams & Shadows" - Coming March 18th

Source: Michael Bloom Media Relations

Coming March 18: JUDY WEXLER DREAMS & SHADOWS Jazzed Media JM 1031 The follow-up to Judy Wexler's critically acclaimed debut Easy on the Heart confirms her status as one of the finest rising bop-influenced jazz vocalists on today's music scene. Dreams & Shadows features an eclectic repertoire, including “Spooky" and “Almost Blue," with inventive arrangements by piano greats Alan Pasqua and Jeff Colella. The sideman list includes saxman Bob Sheppard, bassist Darek Oles, and drummer Joe ...

JAZZTIMES "Though Judy Wexler’s reputation as one of the West Coast’s most compelling vocalists was cemented some time ago, What I See, her fourth release, suggests a heightened maturity, an even greater sense of assured imagination. Much like Abbey Lincoln—and at this point in Wexler’s musical progress, the comparison is quite valid—her skills as an actress are skillfully exercised, adding vivid shadings to her interpretations.”

ALL ABOUT JAZZ “Judy Wexler is more than a mere singer of songs. She’s an actress, mood painter, song archaeologist, and vocalist par excellence. What I See is a marvel of sincerity and beauty.”

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Back to the Garden

Jewel City Jazz
2021

buy

Crowded Heart

Jewel City Jazz
2019

buy

What I See

Jazzed Media
2013

buy

Under A Painted Sky

Jazzed Media
2011

buy

Dreams & Shadows

Jazzed Media
2008

buy

Easy On The Heart

Rhombus Records
2005

buy

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