Jack Jones

[paul jh]

Hi Paul

Streisand's song is Solitary Moon and I had just dozed off to it while listening to her latest CD on headphones. I gather you are not her fan, right Paul? Some songs are beautiful but when she scales the high notes, her voice is raspy which Mariana & I did not find attractive.

The complex jazz chords are supposed to make a song sound sophisticated but it doesn't always work. Like you said, sometimes the song becomes unrecognizable. Singers who oversing are also boring. Nancy Wilson went through a period when she howled and shrieked her way through some "classy" songs but in her last 2 CDs, she went back to her roots and won 2 Grammys.

Paul, do you like Dianne Reeves?

I think I've heard some songs by Dianne Reeves, but with all the great old singers to listen to, I just don't bother with the new ones.

I like Barbra Streisand very much. On the other thread, I mentioned The Broadway Album, People, Funny Girl, Wet, and Sweet Inspiration/Where You Lead as favourites.

I couldn't listen to Nancy Wilson during that period. I prefer the early years (How Glad I Am, Guess Who I Saw Today). Gladys Knight is another one who's not singing well these days.

I find the overuse of jazz chords to be indulgent on the part of the arranger/pianist. Just give me the basic chords and occasionally throw in a complex chord.

[Terence Lee]

Jack Jones Launches New Album

LOS ANGELES, September 19 (Business Wire) -- Four-time nominated and two-time Grammy-winning recording artist Jack Jones is back front and center with a new album titled "Love Ballad," a very personal take on love found and lost. "Love Ballad" will be launched September 20 by Aspen Records and available via BFM Digital Music Services on iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, Emusic, Napster, and Nokia, among others, as well as in stores.

"There is a personal story behind each of the songs," Jones says. "The title song, 'Love Ballad,' was being played as my wife Eleonora and I were first introduced. It expresses the hope of finding the perfect lifetime partner, who must exist somewhere.

"Being a parent, I see 'Not While I'm Around' as a wonderful adult version of 'Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?' from 'Sweeney Todd,' with a much darker meaning."

Jones considers one of the most moving moments in his life when he sang "The Impossible Dream," for hundreds of wives of MIAs at the Washington Armory. "We were all wearing wristbands with MIAs' names on them," he recalls. "You can imagine how hard we all cried at the end of it."

"Call Me Irresponsible" came about after Sammy Cahn asked Jones to come to Jimmy Van Heusen's house to hear a song they wanted him to record. When he got there they played Frank Sinatra's recording of the song, which caused Jones to ask, "What do you need me for?" They explained that Sinatra's performance was too realistic and too good to be a hit, which is why they called him. Choosing not to take issue with this, Jones recorded the song -- and "was subjected to having a major hit record on his hands!"

Jones, who has always been actively involved in the creation of his records, is credited as producer, personally selected all the songs and did the in-studio mixing and mastering of all the tracks.

Jones continues a busy schedule of live performances in performing arts centers throughout the year. He just completed appearances in front of 12,000 people in the Philippines; the McCallum theater; the South Point Casino Hotel and Spa in Las Vegas; and is scheduled for his biennial tour of Great Britain this fall.

[Marian]

Thank you Terence. I am looking forward to buying it when he tours in the UK next month. He said he will be signining copies after the concerts.

[mariana44]

Sounds like a good one !!!! thanks Terence.

[Terence Lee]

Wow Marian, you will get to meet Jack very soon!

Mariana, will you be attending the concert too?

[mariana44]

I would love to be able to say i was, but I just cannot make it--i could probably get to the theatre in Croydon, but I would never get home.

So I just await to hear all about it from Marian, as she always gives us a brilliant report.

[Marian]

Sorry for the delay, but I've been getting myself together again after a week with the grandchildren, followed immediately by Jack's tour.
It was really great to see him again and he seemed really happy to see all his 'old faithfuls' again too.
We only went to two concerts this tour, which finishes this week in Manchester. We saw him in Birmingham Town Hall and Fairfield Halls Croydon. Birmingham was a lovely old venue with a very high ceilings and the accoustics were wonderful. Jack loved everything about it and made sure he paid credit to everyone concerned right down to the lighting director. There is generally some little niggle, but not this time.
This was the song list, but not neccessarily in the same order!
I've Got You Under My Skin
You Made Me Love You
I Can't Get Started with You
God Only Knows
I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face
People
The More I See You
Lollipops and Roses
Wives and Lovers
The Impossible Dream
Just One Of Those Things
L.A. Breakdown
My Kind of Town
Love Boat
The Games People Play
The Folks Who Live on the Hill
Love Story (Randy Newman)
Not While I'm Around
Love Ballad
On My Way to You
All or Nothing at All
and.....I can't believe i forgot... If!
At Croydon he also sang I Am a Singer, as Gerard Kenny who wrote it for Jack was going to be at the Palladium and he was going to sing it for him the following night.
Jack was in good voice and still has a fantastic range for someone of his age, nearly 74.
He wore a grey pinstriped suit and dark blue striped tie and tapestry looking shoes.
I've added some photos on my facebook page. At one point Jack said he would never have believed that he would one day being going round an audience shaking hands with his facebook friends!
After each performance he signed programmmes and copies of his new album (Love Ballad) along with his wife Eleonora, in the lobby at each venue. There was a great long queue in Birmingham. At Croydon we also had a 'meet and greet ' reception and after show chat with them both.
Jack's trio accompanied him from the U.S. Mike Renzi a very accomplished pianist, and Chris Colangelo on Bass, with Kendall Kay on drums. plus a few UK session musicians.
It was great to meet up with lots of friends including Mark Porter at Croydon, who brought along another young singer Shane Hampsheir, for a masterclass on how it should be done!

[john]

Thanks for the write up Marian, sounds like you had a great time. Nice selection of songs as well.

[Sandra]

The Jack Jones shows sounded wonderful Marian.So glad that you had such a great time

[mariana44]

My friend Doreen was also at Croydon--this morning she remarked on JJs "groupies"--and I told her that I knew one of them.!!! She also insisted that JJ was over 75, which I did not think was right, and she said that he was born in 1936. She loved the show, but did not buy a cd as it was too expensive ! I meant to ask her to get me one, but I forgot.

But she loved the show-but did mention that Jack did some "scat" singing at one time , and wondered if he had forgotten his words.

[Marian]

Jack was born on January 14th 1938 Marian. Now you can put your friend straight!
I didn't hear any scat singing at Croydon either, actually the only song he has stumbled over this tour On My Way to You, he sang perfectly at Croydon for the first time!
I think Birmingham was the better concert though and enjoyed it more.
Many of my friends have followed Jack's career since the sixties, and Jack treats them as long term friends, I only saw him live for the first time in 1983, so I'm way behind in some ways, but he still remembers us by name each tour.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Glad you and Peter enjoyed the Two JJ concerts Marian. When singers who have been special favourites reach the advancing years one wonders if they will return again, and Jack appears to have always appreciated his fans and gives his all judging by the programme of songs that he got through,
Incidently, Croyden was the last venue that Al Martino appeared at on his last tour here in the UK.

[ROBERT M.]

Marian, is Kendall Kay related to Kay Kendal ?

[Marian]

Don't think so Robert!

[mariana44]

Thanks Marian-I knew my friend was wrong--but hard to convince some people when they think they know best !!