Review: LA-based composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Sam Gendel's COOKUP is a new album of old material, kind of. It finds him laying down all new interpretations of r&b and soul hits that were first released between 1992 and 2004. It comes on Nonesuch Records and is another showcase of just why Gendel is at the heart of his native scene in Los Angeles. Across 12 glorious tunes his friends and collaborators Gabe Noel and Philippe Melanson help him rework material by greats like Beyonce, Genuwine, Erykah Badu, Soul II Soul and Boyz II Men. A fine collection.
Review: Sam Gendel is renowned for his innovative use of saxophones and wind controllers and with that he brings a fresh perspective to contemporary music. Benny Bock meanwhile is a versatile keyboardist, composer, producer and sound designer from Oakland, California who crafts evocative soundscapes across diverse styles. Hans Kjorstad is the third and final part of this three-way collaboration and is a musician and composer who specialises in contemporary microtonal music while drawing inspiration from Norwegian traditional music and experimental improvisation. Together, their unique approaches push the boundaries of modern music as they weave traditional and avant-garde elements into a rich tapestry of sound that bridges genres and challenges conventions.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.