Opening his show with a montage of home movies, TV appearances and concert footage featuring performances with some of the greatest entertainers of the last century, it’s easy to see where Jack Jones gets his charm and professionalism. You don’t hang out with Sinatra, Garland, Peggy Lee, Joe Williams, Marvin Hamlisch, Sammy Davis, Jr., Tony Bennett and Vic Damone without learning a trick or two.  Of course, one can’t have the kind of career Jones has had just by proximity to great talent, and Jones has the vocal chops that have kept him on the roster of truly fine singers.  Mel Tormé once deemed him "the greatest 'pure' singer in the world." He retains his lovely, slow phrasing, working ballads like few can. His laconic style minimizes the flourishes and embellishments of today’s singers groomed on American Idol. With Jones, less is more and he lets the lyric take center stage.

His arrangements are sparse, with just a few tasteful piano runs from Lou Forstieri and bassist Chris Colangelo. The songs are familiar and nostalgic, delivered with the right amount of feeling and nuance. “You Made Me Love You (I Didn’t’ Want to Do It)” is slowed down almost to spoken word.  He let loose with swing versions of “Just One of Those Things,”  “All or Nothing at All” and a soulful rendition of Joe South’s ‘60s hit, “Games People Play.” The majority of his set is dedicated to love ballads, Jones’s bread and butter. He shows off his technique on the Matt Dennis/Earl Brent torch song “Angel Eyes” and “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face”—great breath control, long sustained notes and a wide tenor range.

Jones is grand old style at its best, but has one foot planted in the modern. He joined Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein’s “The Folks Who Live on the Hill” with Randy Newman’s quirky “Love Story” (“You and Me)” as two versions of family values, and performed a unique arrangement of the Beach Boys’ classic pop song “God Only Knows” given to him by friend Beach Boy Bruce Johnston. Jones sank his teeth into “L.A. Break Down (And Take Me In),” a love song to his hometown. It was tasteful and heartfelt, which best represents the man himself.

Steve Murray
Cabaret Scenes
January 17, 2012
www.cabaretscenes.org