SUPERB JACK JONES

[Marian]

Thank you Lena and Harry. We will.
We were pleased that we had a chance to see Al Martino too.
As Jack has said he would hate to find that something happened to him and that he hadn't done a 'farewell tour' in the U.K. He has said he will come back, but for a limited number of dates and venues.
He has done 19 theatres this tour which would be enough for anyone, let alone someone at 75.

[karl]

C'mon Marian don't keep us in suspenders - we want to hear about Jack's final show and if it was as emotional as you predicted.

Did he break down or did you? Or maybe it was LA Break Down (And Take Me In)?

)

[paul jh]

I enjoyed reading your reports Marian and Karl. It was like being there. Karl, please be gentle with the people who don't applaud; they may have arthritis.

Please post a set list if you remember it. Probably no need to ask if he sang my favourites (Watch What Happens, If You Go Away, Fly Me To the Moon, Call Me Irresponsible) as I don't think he did then the last tour. I adore Watch What Happens. Please tell me he sang the orginial lush arrangement of Lollipops and Roses and not that jazz version.

[karl]

Paul Jack didn't sing many of your titles and as he only had aout 6-7 musicians there were no lush arrangements.

Athritis did cross my mind for the guy sitting next to me but I think he was just a miserable old git!!!

Paul I emailed you months ago regarding Jackie Trent offering to record some material for you. If you read this and are interested you can email me privately with details etc:

[mariana44]

Marian-that was a long tour--19 concerts-not to mention all the travelling. I just caught up with my friend who saw him in Croydon--she was surprised hoe good his voice still was.

He may be like Johny Mathis who cut down on his concerts, but still came to Uk--but not often---and last time he did just the 3 concerts--in the O2---MENA--and Birmingham. But better than nothing for all those who could get there.

[ROBERT M.]

Paul after reading what Karl said, did you receive my message a few months ago regarding the Bea Wain interview ?

[paul jh]

Karl: an arrangement can be lush with just 6 or 7 instruments. Even with just a piano it can be lush. I didn't like the jazz treatment of Lollipops and Roses and hope that he dropped it.

Robert: I received your email. My email here is pretty full and I'm unable to reply. I started listening to it, but ran out of time. I have it bookmarked and will return to it on a rainy day.

[karl]

Paul my defintion of a lush arrangement is with strings, I would not say any of Jack's arrangements on his concert were lush! I have seen enough concerts in my time to realise such things!

[Marian]

I'm sorry to have you kept you waiting for a review but we have been out and about since the last show in Southsea, I have hardly had time to mull everything over and enjoy all those magic moments again myself.
Jack was in fine form and looking well, singing as well as he has ever done, which was lovely.
The closing concert was amazing, Jack had a wonderful reception and a standing ovation as he came on stage before he'd even uttered a note. I recorded 3 songs during the evening and even managed to put two of them on Youtube, so I was pleased with myself! The best song isn't on there though, but it's on Facebook. It was the very last song of the evening and Jack sang it sitting on the stairs, it is beautiful, and he promised it will be true - "We'll Be Together Again". Jack held himself together very well during the performance but several members of the audience were in tears. I am looking it more positively, as I'm sure he will be back.
He said he will do more selective shows, as Marian said, like Tony Bennett. He won't have to go the length and breadth of the country in a tour bus - one stint was Llandudno to Southend in a day, with shows on both nights!
I'll try to remember the song list, but he added songs and dropped others on some shows. He did start off with "A Song For You" each night, as his thank you to his audience.
Another regular was "I've Got You Under My Skin," including names of some of the ladies, yes mine too!
"She", "Send In The Clowns", "Wives and Lovers", "Imagine/From a Distance", "The Love Boat", "Hopeless Romantic", "Man of La Mancha and The Impossible Dream", "That's What Friends Are For", "Music Of The Night", The Gershwin Medley, "If", "I Am A Singer". Gerard Kenny was in one evening, he wrote it for Jack.
He got rather emotional one evening when he sang "If You Go Away" remembering his father, so he dropped it for later shows, which was a shame, as he sang it beautifully. "Dio Come Ti Amo - Oh God How Much I Love You", and "Without A Song" which I believe was written by Frankie Laine. There was another Beatles song that I am struggling to remember, maybe Karl can help out on this one, and any others he can remember too? I've remembered one, "What Are You Doing The Rest Your Life."
Anyway, the whole tour was magical, and one we will remember for a lifetime.

[mariana44]

Thanks Marian-a great write up--and I really think that Jack will be back.

[john]

Very nice write up Marian, and I am glad you and Peter enjoyed the shows.

[karl]

Marian Jack sang most of what you heard apart from I Am A Singer which was a shame, did he hit the big note at the end? He never did on the cd but always did when he sang it on tv.

He did not sing If You Go Away but he did Di Come Ti Amo which pleased me as I remembered that from an old LP. The first time I ever herd Feelign Good was at a JJ concert and then of course years later Michael Buble had a huge hit with it.

I don't remember a Beatles song but the disco type version of Love Boat was there and he did sing We'll Be Together Again.

Didi you meet him and mention his RCA Catalogue? He'd probably say "Oh Not You Too, I Got My Head Nipped In Edinburgh!!!!

[Lena & Harry Smith]

A nice review of Jack's concerts Marian, and you have some wonderful memories to treasure and from the support shown by Jack's fans, this may well encourage him to return.
Jack is one of the very few talents still around from that magical era, and those who have passed on, we know we shall never see the likes of again.

[Marian]

You could have warned me Karl!!! Only joking, I didn't really have the chance to ask him on the last night, but I was the last person to get a programme signed, for someone else, I had mine signed at an earlier concert.

[Sandra]

It sounded wonderful Marian.So pleased that you and Peter have had some fabulous nights with Jack