Jack Jones

[Marian]

Unfortunately we didn't get another chance to speak to JJ last night, just time for a farewell handshake before the coach was off into the night.
Again it was an excellent show, and his voice and range are as powerful as ever.
I think the new album "Love Makes the Changes" out next January, will hopefully bring Jack back into the public eye more. He deserves so much more popularity than he gets.
Angela Rippon, Elaine Paige and P.J.Proby were in the audience at the Palladium last night.
Apart from a change of shirt colour, white to black, he again wore his new ensemble from the last few shows. There are a couple of videos on Youtube already for anyone interested. Both shows we went to, but they are not mine!
At the beginning Jack came on stage wearing a 'Phantom' cloak and began "Slowly, gently" to much amusement.
The song list was followed in the same order as earlier concerts, but he did comment it was a rather strange event for him, as not only did he have his new wife there as usual, but also his ex-mother and father in law, as well as his ex-wife's brother and his family. He dedicated his wedding song to all of them.
Someone in the audience requested The Impossible Dream during the encore, and Jack immediately asked the pianist to find the music, and Jack sang it wonderfully with just piano accompaniment, straight off the top of his head.
Again he closed the show with Somewhere.
It's been a great tour despite all the wet weather, and we have eighteen months until the next time, this time in the Spring!
Marian

[mariana44]

Marian-that all sounded wonderful--just over too quickly , I bet you are thinking-Imshall check out youtube shortly.

You are right saying that JJ should be more popular, but I think some of the problem has been lack of new material--or any material, come to that. Who that is down to, I obviously do not know, but for the thousands who go to his concerts, there are loads more who would like to see and hear more of him-but cannot!

I am sure this new cd will help, and possibly the reissue of "Harbour/The full Life"--not sure about the singles collection.

[Gloria]

A great summary once again, Marian. Sounds like this was a very special tour for you.
Did Jack say what he'd be doing for eighteen months? That's a long time! Maybe he's just going to relax and work on some of his tape remastering (I assume he has a studio at home).

[Gloria]

A few comments about Jack and his popularity:

Over the weekend, I was reading a wonderful biography called "Goodbye," about Gordon Jenkins, one of my all-time favorite music figures, and a genius in arranging, composing and conducting. In 1977, he was frustrated that he wasn't very busy, as there were no great singing voices around to work with. He said, "I'd love to work with Jack Jones. He's a great singer, but no one will hire him." (I believe that Jenkins was referring to the current end of Jack's RCA contract.) A couple years later, JJ was recording his two MGM LPs with Ken Barnes (which Barnes wrote about in his liner notes for the Wives and Lovers/Dear Heart CD). So what would've happened if Jenkins had strongly pursued working with Jack? Would JJ have given Jenkins the same answer as he did to Barnes, that he had no interest in recording traditional, elegant, symphonic pop again? Chances are he would've, and it was probably a good thing that Jenkins never realized that.

Jenkins also wanted badly to record with Barbra Streisand; he even relished the challenge of working with someone deemed very difficult. At one point, Barbra wrote him a long letter, saying that she seriously wanted to do it. But at the time, Streisand was on a long hot streak, with Evergreen, You Don't Bring Me Flowers, Guilty, etc. Then, as now, Barbra became content with chart hits and career statistics, but rarely aimed for that sophisticated, lasting CLASSIC, as Gordon Jenkins was offering her. It's so sad to think of these two missed opportunities, of Jenkins w/Jones and Streisand. Popularity is great, but a work of ART is what makes a singer a truly beloved Legend.

Strangely, Jack did aim for art with his first two LPs for RCA - Without Her and If You Ever Leave Me. He chose Marty Paich to arrange both, which gave them a timeless sound. Jack OWES it to Americans to reissue both of these titles on CD - not just for the fans who love them, but for the legacy of Marty Paich. Any works by Paich are considered important to American pop history, and I'm sure that Jack knows this - he himself has been a huge fan of Paich since his teenage years. He also should reissue L.A. Breakdown, since (at least here in America) there's always a market for more great "Jack Daniels CDs."

[Mark Fox]

There you go again,Gloria-right to the heart of it-I love reading your in-depth views on Jack. You are so right-I've known Ken(Barnes)for several years and his opinion is as you describe. If only Jack would have(occasionally)listened...but that's Jack!

[Marian]

Here is Jack's itinerary so far for next year Gloria, as you can see he does not stay home much, and no I don't believe he has his own studio there.

January 9, 2010 McCallum Theatre for The Performing Arts 73-00 Fred Waring Drive
Palm Desert, CA 92260 8:00 PM 760 340 ARTS

February 21, 2010 The Philadelphia Pops Orchestra
- Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts 300 S Broad St
Philadelphia, PA 3:00 PM 215 893 1999

February 24, 2010 The Philadelphia Pops Orchestra
- Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts 300 S Broad St
Philadelphia, PA 8:00 PM 215 893 1999

February 26, 2010 The Philadelphia Pops Orchestra
- Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts 300 S Broad St
Philadelphia, PA 8:00 PM 215 893 1999

February 27, 2010 The Philadelphia Pops Orchestra
- Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts 300 S Broad St
Philadelphia, PA 3:00 PM 215 893 1999
March 1, 2010 Westchester Broadway Theatre


Jack Jones Sings The Lyrics Of Alan Marilyn Bergman
One Broadway Plaza
Elmsford, NY 10523 8:00 PM 914 592 2222 website
July 30 - August 1, 2010 South Point Casino Hotel & Spa 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 7:30 PM Main:
702 796 7111
Tickets:
702 797 8055

Marian

[Marian]

Thank you for your comments Marian and yes, it is always special Gloria.
The tour was all over far too quickly, but we have the new album of mostly completely new material to look forward to, hopefully in January when he appears at this home theatre.
With Michel Legrand's music and Alan and Marilyn Bergmans beautifully clever lyrics, it will be a whole new departure for JJ that I hope will be a success.
However, I think Jack is very happy as he is, and does not seek the success of more widespread popularity that many celebrities seem to thrive on.
He does what he does, he is content doing that, and he does it well.
Jack should be judged, if that is the correct word, on what he is doing now, and not whatever mistakes he may have made in the past.
Marian

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Hi Marian, it's been great reading your reports on JJs tour and so good to know that you have had such an enjoyable time seeing your singing idol.
Your comments of Jacks position and popularity have often raised similar questions of Al Martino's position
Many have asked why he was not named up there with the regular top artists.
Both Jack and Al had more talent in their little fingers than many of those credited on the top rung of the ladder had in their entire bodies. It depends on how much an artist wants to push their own careers and how important it is to them to attain and remain at that top status.
We know a little about show business and Al Martino had very good reasons why he decided to do things his way. This decision resulted in him being continuously busy entertaining audiences and giving pleasure to millions. Al admired and respected his contemporaries but we don't believe he was ever in awe of them, he had no reason to be.
Marian's account of JJ sounds similar and yes, any mistakes that Jack made hasn't affected his paying audience. He's still there and that's what matters.

[Marian]

Thank you Lena and Harry. So good to get some positive words about Jack, and to hear that Al had a similar regard for his career.
They both have remained true to their beliefs and to their loyal followers, and both had and have a terrific talent that has continued over many years.
I'm sure Jack could afford to retire in comfort with his new bride, but instead he chooses to work hard every year entertaining appreciative audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.
It cannot be much fun at nearly 72 years of age, to tour here in the cold and rain of November, travelling the length and breadth of the country and Ireland in a cramped tour bus, and then be expected to put on a top quality performance every night, no matter how he might be feeling.
Marian

[Gloria]

I'm sorry if my posts offended anyone, because I emphasized that they were not meant as condemnation of Jack Jones, the entertainer of today.

I openly admit that I LOVE talking about music, and I love the history of music. I also admit my bias in being in awe of the era in which Jack Jones came up, and how he had the most gifted music people of the century at his disposal. I'm disappointed that he didn't choose to utilize such people, but that was not exclusive to him. I've been disappointed in MANY singers who have settled for easy success and money, instead of reaching for new artistic heights. I was excited like a small child about a quote on Jones and Streisand because it made that point, and I simply thought it was interesting. I didn't think it would be perceived as wanting to contribute negativity to a thread.

Jack Jones predominantly plays in venues that are located in wealthy resort areas or retirement communities in the U.S., as is confirmed to me in the list Marian has posted. I realize now that it's hard for people in other countries to comprehend the size of the U.S. and how little those concert fans represent the number of Americans aware of JJ, and how little those numbers represent the true, everyday American music fans. Obviously, we have many cultural differences which can't be explained over a forum, so I apologize for trying to do that.

[Terence Lee]

To give Jack the benefit of the doubt, perhaps he could not get a company interested in reissuing his RCA recordings in USA or the terms were not attractive enough. Country House is based in Scotland and perhaps the execs were convinced the CD will sell if promoted with the UK tour. Jack did his part by singing many of the songs on the CD in concert. I am sure he has not specifically sung so many songs from the Harbour album in any one concert before. Maybe that was part of the deal. We will never know unless we know the inside story.

[Terence Lee]

Marian has posted Jack's itinerary for 2010 and so far I can see they are all performances in USA. His American fans like the rest of his fans in Europe, Asia, Australia & New Zealand, etc can always buy I Never Had It So Good by mail order. Postage is free worldwide.

Some of his RCA recordings were released on CD in Japan. I wondered why that has stopped.

[Marian]

Just to emphasise the point further that JJ is popular in the U.S as well as other parts of the world, here is last year's intinerary from February 2009 to his U.K tour in November..

February 14, 2009 Louisville Orchestra
- Louisville Palace Theatre Louisville, KY 8:00 PM 502 361 3100
February 21, 2009 Tropicana Express Casino & Hotel Pavillion Theater
2121 S Casino Drive
Laughlin, NV 8:00 PM 800 243 6846
February 24-28, 2009 The Colony Palm Beach Palm Beach, FL 8:00 PM 561 655 5430
March 3-7, 2009 The Colony Palm Beach Palm Beach, FL 8:00 PM 561 655 5430
March 28, 2009 Warner Grand Theatre
- Benefit Concert for House of Hope 478 W 6th St
San Pedro, CA 90731 7:00 PM 310 521 9209
June 5, 2009 Peter Nero and The Philadelphia Pops Orchestra
- Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts 300 S Broad St
Philadelphia, PA 7:00 PM 215 893 1999
July 10-11, 2009 South Point Hotel Casino & Spa 9777 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 7:30 PM 866 796 7111
August 14-15, 2009 Yoshi’s San Francisco 1330 Fillmore St.
San Francisco, CA 8:00 PM & 10:00 PM 415 655 5600
September 6-7, 2009 Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon
Helping Jerry’s Kids 1 800 FIGHT MD
September 9-19, 2009 Oak Room Algonquin Hotel
Celebrating the 30th Season as New York's Best Cabaret 59 West 44th Street Between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
New York, NY 10036 8:30 PM 212 840 6800
November 6-7, 2009 Catalina Jazz Club
Jack Jones Sings the Lyric of Alan & Marilyn Bergman 6725 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood California 90028 8:00 PM & 10:00 PM 323-466-2210

I'm sure not all these venues are as select as The Algonquin, I can only speak from experience here as to the venues Jack plays in the U.K.
Some of them are large concert halls, and some are local town halls.
I'm sure Jack doesn't distinguish between them, and gives as equally fine a performance in both.
I'm not offended by your posts Gloria, you are entitled to your opinion, but I don't necessarily have to agree with it.
I believe Jack still has a large and supportive fan base in the U.S. as in the U.K.
Terence's comments too might have a great deal to do with why this latest re release came out here, as well as it being timed to coincide with his U.K. Tour and as he said, it is available worldwide with free postage.
Marian

[Mark Fox]

Thanks for the postings on JJ's USA dates which I've forwarded to my e-listers Stateside.
For me YOU are now the official'AMBASSADOR FOR JACK JONES'-with you ,who needs a PR?
Jack has always been a particular favourite of both mine&Margarets-my biggest regret is that with all his film-star looks and wonderful voice is that he should be in number one slot. Touring must be gruelling especially in a tour bus! But he must genuinely love it all-look at Tony Bennett-83 next and just back from concerts in Brazil! Nothing to do with the money. AND planning a UK visit next year.
Jack's main problem is lack of a record deal which is the key to most things showbiz-wise these days.
I look forward to the Bergman album-
Thanks so much,Marian for all your JJ news both here and on my e-mail-PLEASE keep it coming!

[Marian]

Thank you Mark. I do my best.

I'm sure you are right, both Tony and Jack love what they do.
Singing is their life.
At the Palladium Jack was recalling the days when he played there for a month at a time, appearing twice nightly!
Of course he was a whole lot younger in those days.
Marian