Teddy Wender Releases New Single

Great male pop vocalists always seem to do so much with just an ease of vocal effort. Tony Bennett can croon, and Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) holds us by the palm of his hands with his use of few words and quiet, soft touching voice. Teddy Wender channels the New York vibe and the folksy tenderness of Stevens in his latest track, “Peace Will Come”. Inspired by the shut downs, racial tensions, political divisions and general anxieties, “Peace Will Come” nods its caps to the Sixties keyboard tones and politely forms a gathering spot for the listener to hum along.

The song and its companion music video are perfect for the times.

“Peace Will Come” is the first single from Wender’s forthcoming album, Theo. He wrote the song with his friend Neil Rosengarden, and it is co-produced by Chris “The Fourz” Brown. No stranger to the New York scene, Wender is the founder of the band 3-D, and has played keyboards for such greats as Ric Derringer, Dr. John, Odetta, Johnny Winter, Loudon Wainwright III and more. He’s currently the keyboardist for Long Island’s Red White & Blues Band.

This track is an anthem in the idea that we can all sing it and we can relate to it. It’s genuinely honest. It’s a calming song. Maybe now peace will come Wender sings. His voice harbors years of experience and knowledge. He reminds me a lot of Bruce Springsteen in that he has this calloused sheen to his vocals. Like walking into a record store, something about the air and the touch of flipping through records feels comforting. At the end of each measure, I had to wonder if the melodies almost didn’t have a tear in one of his eyes. I felt his emotional outpouring.

Wender’s keyboard playing is intricate enough that you feel like you can keep finding new soundscapes with each listen. He really draws from the Sixties soul songs with the electric keys. It’s like the sound of a great muscle car, the hum of the engine. It’s done ever-so cleverly in that it doesn’t overshadow Wender’s singing or the song’s lyrics. The keyboard is definitely the soul to the song. Between Wender, a melodic guitar and the keys/organ, the music bed is tight. The sound is intimate, but breaths a lot of power behind this soft punch. It’s like the saying, speak softly and carry a big stick. Wender’s voice has a lot of gumption and impact.

The other major character in the song – according to the music video – is New York City. Wender is scene in his studio singing and playing the keys, with video of every day New Yorkers sharing his lyrics on posterboard. The infamous Naked Cowboy even makes an appearance. Most of the folks are wearing masks and it’s a sign-of-the-times. It’s amazing to know that years from now when children look at these videos, hear these songs, to realize that there are people that are giving it their all and want unity.

Mindy McCall