Gretchen Parlato: The Wise Ones review
Gretchen Parlato’s The Wise Ones is her third album since returning from a six-year period of parenting in 2021. The record features longtime collaborators Alan Hampton and Mark Guiliana, alongside guests including Robert Glasper, Meshell Ndegeocello and Becca Stevens, as Parlato performs soft funk, dancefloor songs and interpretations of Stevie Wonder and Tears for Fears.
Gretchen Parlato’s The Wise Ones is her third album since she returned from six years of parenting in 2021.
The LA-born singer is joined by longtime partners including multi-instrumentalist Alan Hampton and percussionist Mark Guiliana, who is also Parlato’s husband. Guests include Robert Glasper, Meshell Ndegeocello and Becca Stevens.
The album features soft funk, dancefloor numbers and interpretations of songs by Stevie Wonder and Tears for Fears. Parlato previously drew worldwide acclaim for her version of Herbie Hancock’s “Butterfly,” which featured onstage silence, a Brazilian groove and a wordless vocal hook.
THE QUESTIONS THIS EVENT LEAVES BEHIND
How might Parlato’s return from parenting shape the album’s themes or priorities?
What choices determined which longtime collaborators and guest musicians appeared on the record?
How do interpretations of Stevie Wonder and Tears for Fears alter the balance between Parlato’s own material and outside influences?
What conditions enabled Parlato’s career to regain worldwide attention after her six-year absence?
YOUR QUESTION
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GLOBAL CURIOSITY MAP · AUGUST 2026