Sam Gendel:   Cookup

Multi-instrumentalist Sam Gendel is an LA based artist who teams up here with Gabe Noel, who plays bass, vibes, and various guitars , and Phillipe Melanson on drums and percussion. He source of material is a catalogue of material from today’s R&B artists, such as Beyonce or Boyz II Men. Gendel is best known for his tenor sax work, but it’s overshadowed by a myriad of other instruments like “wind controller”, bass recorder and synthesizer. His sax is warm on “I Wanna Know” with the vibes are reflective during the thoughtful “ I Swear”. Meshell Ngegeocello is  akin to Nina Simone s she tells a story on Anywhere”. The team gets funky on “Didn’t Cha Know” and synthy for “SWV Medley” with lots of electronics permeating throughout, particularly on “Candy Rain”. Like a movie or book, I tend to wonder who the intended audience is for things like this.

www.nonesuch.com

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