Jazz artist Sam Gendel has announced a new album called Cookup, comprising reimagined versions of R&B songs by 112, Ginuwine, Aaliyah, All-4-One, Soul 4 Real, Beyoncé, Joe, Erykah Badu, Mario, SWV, and Boyz II Men originally released between 1992 and 2004. It’s due out February 24 via Nonesuch. Check out his cover of 112’s “Anywhere” featuring Meshell Ndegeocello below.
Gendel recorded Cookup in California with Gabe Noel and Philippe Melanson. For his 2020 Nonesuch LP Satin Doll, the trio reconstructed jazz standards in a similar fashion. In the years since, Gendel has covered Vampire Weekend and released several more records, including the Nonesuch effort DRM, the 52-song Fresh Bread, and the Antonia Cytrynowicz collaboration Live a Little.
Read about Sam Gendel in Pitchfork’s feature “Ambient Jazz’s Quiet, Forceful Return.” Plus, check out “The 53 Best R&B Songs of the ’90s.”
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Cookup:
01 Differences
02 Anywhere [ft. Meshell Ndegeocello]
03 Are You That Somebody
04 I Swear
05 Candy Rain
06 In Those Jeans
07 Crazy in Love
08 I Wanna Know
09 Didn’t Cha Know
10 Let Me Love You
11 SWV Medley
12 Water Runs Dry