“My View” written by Stephen Sorokoff
During Jack Jones performance at Feinstein’s, words entered my mind that are not usually associated when critiquing a singer. I became awestruck and at the same time intimidated by the enormity of the man’s vocal and dramatic abilities. I started to think of the other acclaimed male vocalists of my era. Frank, Tony, Vic, Nat, Sammy, (can’t name them all) and had a trivial thought. I’ve heard many comics and serious singers do very credible impersonations of them all. Usually no one attempts to do Jack. He defies duplication.
Jack’s body language tells you something. When he takes the stage, plants his feet and looks at you, it is with the confidence of someone who is in total command of his extraordinary abilities and is not looking for your approval. Rather, it’s the demeanor of a man who is confident he’s going to be able to musically and dramatically seduce you.
Walter Cronkite became the most trusted voice in America partly because he slowed his cadence and mastered the dramatic pause when speaking. When Jack sings a ballad, the space he leaves between words and phrases keeps an audience spellbound as it realizes it’s hearing an unrivaled interpretation. You hear the words and music connected in ways you have never heard them before.
His world of swing takes me to a place that few other vocalists do. How many times have you heard “Just One Of Those Things?” Jack makes you wish you had a seat belt to help keep you in your chair. He made a slight excuse for including one of his signature songs “Impossible Dream.” Excuse me Jack! – as you removed your jacket, tousled your hair and became Don Quixote it brought most of your audience to tears. I went back to hear Jack Jones the next night. I wanted to make sure it wasn’t an impossible dream I was experiencing; probably hearing the greatest singer ever to take a cabaret stage.
One minor note, I wasn’t the only one intimidated by Jack. His “new” group of superb musicians was somewhat timid in their playing at times, but that’s going to change as they get used to Jack.
Jack Jones www.feinsteinsattheregency.com thru June 30th
*photos- Stephen Sorokoff
Posted by Sandi Durell
on June 29, 2012. Filed under Cabaret,Cabaret and Interviews - Sandi Durell,COLUMNS,ENTERTAIMENT.
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