High Heart
2020 studio album by Ben Wendel
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High Heart is the fifth studio album of saxophonist and composer Ben Wendel. It was released on October 30, 2020, under the Edition label.[1]
| High Heart | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 30, 2020 | |||
| Recorded | January 7 & 8, 2019 Brooklyn, New York | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 45:06 | |||
| Label | Edition EDN 1162 LP/CD | |||
| Ben Wendel chronology | ||||
| ||||
The album is described as a personal statement and reflection of Wendel's journey "in a society of increasing complexity, oversaturation, and social imbalance [and one] that opens discussion and raises questions about how artists create art that is personal and meaningful in an increasingly impersonal time."[2][3]
The album's cover artwork was designed by British designer, Oli Bentley. Every sleeve of the limited-edition colored vinyl run was individually hand painted before distribution.[4]
Most recently, Wendel has toured with the High Heart Project, collaborating and featuring film maker, pianist, and new media artist, XUAN.
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| All About Jazz |   [3] |
| DownBeat | [2] |
Mike Jacobs, writing for All About Jazz, described it as a "standout album that is at once challenging, inspiring, and an advance—but most importantly, one that lives up to its title".[3] James Hale of DownBeat added, "Wendel most often strikes a tone of uncertainty, if not outright anxiety. Call it brooding music for our times."[2]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Ben Wendel.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "High Heart" | 6:38 |
| 2. | "Burning Bright" | 6:08 |
| 3. | "Kindly" | 7:08 |
| 4. | "Less" | 3:51 |
| 5. | "Drawn Away" | 7:14 |
| 6. | "Fearsome" | 4:58 |
| 7. | "Darling" | 5:52 |
| 8. | "Traveler" | 3:17 |
| Total length: | 45:06 | |
Personnel
- Ben Wendel – tenor saxophone, bassoon, effects[5]
- Michael Mayo – vocals, effects
- Shai Maestro – piano, Rhodes piano
- Gerald Clayton – piano, Rhodes piano
- Joe Sanders – upright bass
- Nate Wood – drums