David Hajdu After years of writing about songs in books and essays, David Hajdu has taken up writing them. Over the past five years, Hajdu has been working with several esteemed composers of jazz, pop and theater music: the pianists Renee Rosnes and Fred Hersch, the alternative-folk singer-songwriter Jill Sobule, and the veteran Broadway composer Michael (Mickey) Leonard. The result is Waiting for the Angel, a collection of quirkily artful songs that defy easy categorization. An all-star group of artists came together to record the material: singers Jo Lawry, Karen Oberlin, and Michael Winther; pianists Rosnes and Hersch, playing the songs they composed; additional pianist Tedd Firth; and a band with saxophonist Steve Wilson, trumpeter Steven Bernstein, guitarist Peter Bernstein; oboist Charles Pillow, cellist Dave Eggar, bassist Sean Smith, and drummer Carl Allen. Much like Hajdu's writing in prose, the lyrics on Waiting for the Angel tell unexpected tales from unconventional vantage points. "David Hajdu's lyrics tell complex and moving stories -- always from his unique point of view," says Fred Hersch. "They are so easy to work with, the songs almost write themselves." Jill Sobule adds, "I wish I wrote those lyrics myself." As Renee Rosnes says, "When David first asked if I might be interested in writing some songs together, I was very intrigued. I was well aware that he is a wordsmith of the highest order and was excited at the prospect that we might be able to create something of beauty together. Collaborating with David has been a true revelation. It was very fulfilling to hear Jo, Karen, and Michael bring our songs to life with their brilliant artistry. I feel that David's words have awakened a new compositional side of me, and it is one that I am looking forward to continuing to explore." "Sounds like Chet Baker and Annie Proulx trading riffs at the Blue Note." Sridhar Pappu, Billboard "Hajdu’s lyrics are vivid, with grim, mordant undertones." Matthew Kassel, New York Observer "Hajdu's songs come across like clear, present and first-hand joys and anxieties set to music, major-chord realizations and minor-key moments that likely have played out in Hajdu’s life or rattled around his mind after he’s completed listening to and commenting on other people’s music." Larry Blumenfeld, BluNotes "Hajdu is as clever, witty and literate a lyricist as you are likely to hear these days. Whether he’s telling us about “Donna the Astronomer” or Billy Strayhorn advising a whining Duke Ellington to just “suffer,” he’s a lyricist like no other you’re used to right now." Jeff Simon, Buffalo News "The entire CD is just filled with lyrical and musical surprises performed by gorgeous voices and great musicians." David Kenney, WBAI radio