Jeremy Sassoon: Older And Wiser

UK singer and pianist Jeremy Sassoon has followed a remarkably unusual path. After qualifying from Middlesex Hospital Medical School in London and completing postgraduate training as a hospital psychiatrist in Manchester, he made the bold decision in 1995 to leave medicine behind and pursue a full-time career in music. He first established himself as an accompanist, forming a close partnership with singer Paul Bentley, and following Bentley's retirement, he stepped forward as a performer in his own right. That journey brings us to Older And Wiser, a collection of nine cover versions that display his poignant piano playing and soulful vocals.

The album sees Sassoon step forward as a consummate storyteller, with each song dealing with the challenges faced by a different individual. As he explains, "I've often wondered why people connect so strongly with these particular songs—is it because they see their own experiences in them, or perhaps it's because I am reflecting my own. Perhaps I express vulnerability authentically because I've been there."

Opening with Jon Cleary's composition, "Frenchman Street Blues," Sassoon's clear, warm vocals and inventive piano flourishes sit effortlessly within the relaxed sway of New Orleans blues. This is followed by the much-covered "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," elevated here by a tasteful string section. Sassoon's assured vocal draws the best from the track, while his excellent piano solo surprisingly veers into a theme from Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells (Virgin Records, 1973).

John Mayer and Pino Palladino's "Stop This Train" fits naturally into the album's broad concept of the passage of time. The core trio of bassist Chris Rabbitts and drummer Pat Illingworth add rhythmic highlights underpinning another heartfelt vocal from Sassoon. Like any accomplished balladeer, he has an instinctive feel for where the sweet notes lie and his piano style carries the narrative warmth of artists such as Billy Joel, Joshua Kadison, Elton John and Marc Cohn.

Mention of Marc Cohn leads naturally on to his excellent composition "The Things We've Handed Down." Sassoon's arrangement reached number 1 on the iTunes vocal download chart. His bluesy interpretation adds more rhythmic purpose, while his piano solo serves to enhance the song's poignancy. Janis Ian's Grammy-winning song of teenage alienation, "At Seventeen," might initially seem an unlikely choice for a more mature male voice, but Sassoon delivers it with sensitivity and depth. The band reveals the song's latent samba undercurrent, complemented by Steve Parry's beautifully judged flugelhorn.

Elsewhere, Sassoon brings a gospel inflection to "Let It Be" and offers a finely shaped version of James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" before the left-field choice of The Alan Parsons Project's "Old And Wise." Mike Walker adds a dramatic guitar solo, alongside the string section, to support Sassoon's dynamic vocal.

This jazz-influenced collection of covers is distinguished by the caliber of its arrangements and musicianship. Sassoon's soulful voice, expressive piano work and careful attention to phrasing consistently draw out the emotional core of each song, communicating every narrative with openness, sensitivity and authenticity.

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