Mike Jones: With Strings
Veteran pianist Mike Jones, based in Las Vegas, specialises in striking stride and swing interpretations of classic tunes from the Great American Songbook. In his latest recording, a live club performance, he uses the drumless piano trio format pioneered by Nat King Cole, and revived by Oscar Peterson in the early 50s. He is accompanied by guitarist Graham Dechter and bassist Alex Frank, both deservedly busy and active on the LA jazz scene.
The playfully ambiguous title, together with the vintage repertoire, might be mistakenly taken to imply a bland retro album, but a few bars of the exuberantly swinging and creative opener, Lady Be Good, quickly blows such a notion away. The group’s credentials are established from the start – three skilled and expressive soloists who also function smoothly as an integrated team with lively dynamic exchanges and spontaneous rapport. Tempos are nearly all bright and upbeat with Dechter throwing in a little percussion with some snappy finger-drumming, presumably on his guitar.
Dave McKenna, Bobby Hackett’s favourite pianist, had been an early major influence on Mike’s energetic and rhythmically charged style. Typically, (e.g., Deed I Do) fast-fingered rippling cascades are supported by vigorous stabbing cross-rhythms. Graham’s solos, duet exchanges and ensemble contributions match Mike’s for panache, technical skill and fluent creativity. His half-chorus in the only slow track, The Very Thought Of You, is a gem. Similarly accomplished and at home, Alex’s full-toned bass drives propulsively and contributes thoughtfully phrased interesting solos.
Stepping briefly outside the Great American Songbook, the album peaks for me with Oscar Peterson’s Kelly’s Blues. There’s something of Kansas City in the jaunty, rolling beat, and there are fine blues solos all around, Mike’s building to an exciting climax. This is timeless classic jazz, freshly recreated with impressive swing and skill.
Discography
Oh, Lady Be Good; Gone With The Wind; Autumn Leaves; Kelly’s Blues; Destination Moon; Deed I Do; The Very Thought Of You; Exactly Like You (56.55)
Jones (p); Alex Frank (b); Graham Dechter (g). Vic’s Supper Club, Las Vegas, 8 December 2025.
Capri 74178-2
Billie Holiday: Songs For Distingué Lovers
After signing with impresario Norman Granz in 1952, Billie made a succession of albums backed by top-class jazz musicians. This LP from 1956-57 is one of her last for his Verve label. In the later releases, damage to her voice and overall health through drug and alcohol abuse became increasingly noticeable, as her now fragile delivery struggled at times with range, pitch and breath control. She could still, however, rise defiantly to the occasion as she does here. Her unique ability to intensify and identify with the significance of the lyrics with intimate insight, and to modify the contours of the melody line – together with her masterful sense of timing – never deserted her. Drawing on her own deeply troubling experiences, she could convey more than any other vocalist pathos and yearning, without mawkishness. She does so superbly here in I Didn’t Know What Time It Was, We’ll Be Together Again (strangely omitted on the original LP) and One For My Baby, in which she sings for the whole track (5.40) without a break. (Elsewhere, vocals are bookended with a generous rest space in between for instrumental solos.)
Billie deserved and needed the support of the stellar group that back her. Harry Edison, tightly muted and expressive, Jimmy Rowles, tastefully elegant and contained, Barney Kessel, fluent and assured, all provide accomplished solos, as does Ben Webster’s big-toned tenor, magnificent in Stars Fell On Alabama and I Didn’t Know What Time It Was.
The original Verve album was included in 2019 on Avid’s Four Classic Albums (Second Set), but this latest reissue on vinyl adds two bonus tracks from the same sessions, unissued on the original album. It’s also available on CD.
Discography
(1) Day In, Day Out; A Foggy Day; Stars Fell On Alabama; (2) We’ll Be Together Again (20.27) – (1) One For My Baby (And One More For The Road); Just One Of Those Things; (3) I Didn’t Know What Time It Was; (4) April In Paris (20.18)
(1) Holiday (v); Ben Webster (ts); Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison (t); Jimmy Rowles (p); Barney Kessel (g); Red Mitchell (b); Alvin Stoller (d). Hollywood, 3, 4, 7 and 8 January 1957. (2) as (1), bonus track, Hollywood, 18 August 1956. (3) as (1) except Joe Mondragon (b) replaces Mitchell. 18 August 1956. (4) as (1) bonus track.
20th Century Masterworks 350304
