Album Review of
Till They Lay Me Down

Written by Joe Ross
May 8, 2017 - 12:00am EDT
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I’ve always loved the warm sounds of a good saxophone, and David Wise knows how to get the best from his tenor and baritone. Growing up in Richmond, Va., Wise hold degrees from Oberlin College in African-American Studies and Jazz Saxophone Performance. He’s since moved to Los Angeles where he performs and tours regularly. Six of the eight tracks on the CD are original David Wise compositions that make some poignant statements. The title cut runs about eight minutes, and “Home” is nearly ten. Both incorporate explorations of melody, syncopations, rhythm and dynamics. As Wise does, I think you’ll draw inspiration from his musical interpretation of “Kol Nidre,” a central melody of Yom Kippur. Wise may be primarily a jazz purveyor, but I hear rudiments of funk, rock, soul and blues in his music. Closing the project with three parts of a rousing and motivating “Life is But a Song,” Wise compelled me to keep his enjoyable music spinning in my player for several more revolutions as I cruised around town doing my errands.  (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)