Ada Bird Wolfe

“A real tour de force where the two talents give each other room to really shine and bring it all home in a velvet jewel box.  Top shelf.” 
— Midwest Records

“When people who don’t live in Los Angeles ask what makes the deeply interactive, mix and match jazz community there so special, we can now point to He & Me as a visionary example of what can eventually result when a singer serendipitously walks into a cozy club (in this case, The Gardenia), hears an incredible musician and connects on transcendent levels that open the door to endless possibilities.”

— JW VIBE

Wolfe has a rich, alto voice with a warm, intimate timbre. She eschews melisma and vocal gymnastics to tell her stories through inventive phrasing and subtle variations on melody. Trotter is a first-call accompanist for vocalists who are serious about their craft. He possesses an expansive musical vocabulary and the ability to listen closely and react with his own imaginative turns of phrase. He & Me provides a glimpse into the creative process of two musicians whose tastes and aesthetics are completely in synch. They build tunes organically by listening closely to one another and weaving tapestries of sound that create new and unexpected aural images. 

— Lemonwire

ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2020 — The true consummate artist takes the very difficult, making it understandable, enjoyable, and fulfilling all at the same time. On He & Me this creative pair takes a handful of craggy bop tunes, stirring in some tasteful originals, resulting in an even dozen songs for a solid duo recital. Wolfe's vocals flow with a modal inertia, well supported by Trotter's same accompaniment. The music exists as ravenous particles suspended in the air and time, held together by Wolfe's deeply-hewn alto tone. This performance is impressive.

— All About Jazz

The esteemed singer and lyricist Ada Bird Wolfe is aligned with pianist and arranger Jamieson Trotter and together the pair deliver jazz standards and originals across a dozen well crafted tracks.  Wolfe and Trotter work with divine chemistry on He & Me, as each song is precisely built and executed with adventurousness, timelessness and first rate jazz and blues sounds.

— Take Effect by Tom Haugen

There is nothing quite like two brilliant artists finding that they fit like hand-in-glove. Ada Bird Wolfe and Jamieson Trotter are just such artists. With these songs, covers and originals, they take possession of the music and the hearer. He & Me is one of the finest duets one could ever hope to hear. The writing, the arranging, and the performance artistry are exquisite.

— The Jazz Owl by Travis Rogers, Jr.
HTTPS://TAKEEFFECTREVIEWS.COM/NOVEMBER-2020/2020/11/7/ADA-BIRD-WOLFE-AMP-JAMIESON-TROTTER

He & Me by vocalist Ada Bird Wolfe and pianist Jamieson Trotter is a fantastic recording. Pairing a mix of standards and original works, the production is a wonderful showcase of the duo’s musical chemistry. The two talents handle their respective crafts very deftly, as they move through very thoughtful and clever renditions of tunes by Wayne Shorter, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Dizzy Gillespie, and John Lennon and Paul McCartney, among others. A truly entertaining and thoroughly ear-pleasing work.

— The Jazz Page, Glenn Daniels

Wolfe's voice is a pleasing low alto and she avoids vocal gymnastics, preferring subtle variations on melody, though when she sings fast I was reminded of the quirkiness of the late Annie Ross. It is obvious that Trotter really listens to his singers and responds inventively.

— Ann Alex Bebop Spoken Here (UK)

https://lance-bebopspokenhere.blogspot.com/2020/11/cd-review-ada-bird-wolfe-and-jamieson.html

Sing to me!

Ada Bird Wolfe sings like she’s lived a few of these lyrics, possessing a rich and palpable tone, but flexible enough to swing it as she teams with the warm hands of pianist Jamieson Trotter on some rich reads. Trotter evokes reminiscence of Jaki Byard, possessing exciting chords as well as fragrant melodies as Wolfe puts lyrics to Miles Davis’ “ESP” on “Mind to Mind”. Likewise the two bop with delight on “Sweet Nardis” while Trotter pulls out some classical nocturne atmospheres on a clever “Night In Tunisia” while the two get elliptical on “Blue In Green/All Blues”. Wolfe snaps her fingers and the lyrics do a fun take of “Get It Straight (Straight, No Chaser)”  while the two volley back and forth on a sensuous samba of “Logo Eu”. Dynamic duets.

— JazzWeekly by George Harris
https://www.jazzweekly.com/2020/11/women-of-the-wordada-bird-wolfe-jamieson-trotter-he-me-kristiana-romer-house-of-mirrors-nora-jean-wallace-blues-woman/

Wolfe’s approach to her interpretations is distinctive, no-frills, always intense. Her contralto sound can be rich, although at times, and always where appropriate to the lyrical content of a song, she adopts an almost conversational air. Trotter is a powerful presence, his interplay with and backing of the singer is exceptional and together they clearly demonstrate that their collaboration is a meeting of like minds. Featuring contemporary jazz singing that is always accessible, this album should have broad appeal.

— Jazz Journal (UK), Bruce Crowther

“He & Me” is a twelve song celebration of this connection.  

Wolfe and Trotter share a love for the kind of dissonance, angularity and humor found in the music of Monk and Mingus, the spirituality of Coltrane and the fluid elegance of Miles. Each is open to discovering the jazz possibilities of music outside the customary canon. Exploration of the infinite layers of rhythm, melody, harmony and meaning is their common passion and pursuit.

Wolfe says: “It is thrilling to work with a musician who is so brilliant, original and creative.  He is completely fearless, leaping into the music as if he is leaping off a cliff, centered in absolute faith and commitment. At the same time, he is completely present and supportive of me, laying in perfect accents, carrying on the conversation, providing the space for my creative spirit to blossom.”

For Trotter: “Floating in the creative ether with Ada Bird Wolfe brings me to the space that I yearn to occupy at all times - the reason that I create.  Ada and I just get there with ease, and she continues to inspire the creative journey. Old songs feel new; new songs become revelations, and she’s there, smiling and digging in.  She could be the out-est cat I know, but she plays it like she’s inside.”