Behind the Voice

The multi-instrumenalist Clarence Penn is joined by a large cast for these vocal jazz selections that resonate timelessness and originality.

"Send One Your Love" opens the listen with Aaron Marcellus' expressive pipes alongside Penn's frisky drumming for the rhythmic climate, and "Come Talk To Me" follows with James Genus' playful bass suiting Kurt Elling's distinct pipes that are soulful.

Halfway through, "Sometimes It Snows In April" welcomes Chelsea Jackson's poetic pipes to the soft display that makes great use of Christopher Bruce's agile guitar, while the loud and punchy "Everlong" showcases Adam Rogers' groovy guitar and vocorder via a very unique interpretation of the Foo Fighters classic.

The last 2 tracks, "Human Nature" and "You Are", don't disappoint either. The former is heavy on processed vocals, as Yasushi Nakamura lends his bass prowess, and the latter and sole original is populated by Jackson's elegant voice and Penn's skilled percussive ideas.

Penn's resume is quite impressive and includes work with Wynton Marsalis, Betty Carter and many more. These takes on tunes by Phil Collins, Stevie Wonder and others continues his 3+ decades of dynamic drumming, and makes for very a intriguing and clever covers effort.