On Songs of My Dreams, vocalist and songwriter James Judson steps into the big-band-and-strings tradition with a set that treats new material like freshly minted standards, leaning on classic jazz phrasing and a romantic, late-night glow rather than modern vocal flash. Guided by co-producer/arranger Tim Sonnefeld on Hammond B3 organ, Fender Rhodes, and guitar, the lush frames come alive around Judson’s warm delivery, with Gary Matsumoto on piano, Max Haymer on piano, Mike Gurrola on bass, Dan Lutz on bass, Charles Glenn on bass, Charles Ruggiero on drums, and Leddie Garcia on percussion. The larger orchestra colors the storytelling nicely without feeling overwhelming. The production features Michael Campagna, Aaron Janik, Dan Fornero, Dave Richards, and Mike Cordone on trumpets; Bob Sheppard, Anton Sushev, Bob Reynolds, Doug Webb, and Jason Fabus on saxophones; Erik Hughes, Ryan Dragon, Joshua Brown, and Todd Eames on trombones; Eliza James, Olga Ivanenko, Laurann Woods, and Lily Honigberg on violins; Jennifer Wu and Troy Everett on violas; and Jean-Paul Barjon and Judy Kang on cellos—while Judson’s book nods to the lineage through composers like Johnny Mandel and Paul Francis Webster and the standard-setting team of Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons, placing his originals in easy conversation with the language that shaped them. This is a sweeping, orchestra-kissed statement that boldy establishes itself as a classic vocal jazz album.
