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Jack Jones Featuring Joey DeFrancesco: ArtWork

By Nicholas F. Mondello
October 9, 2023
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Jack Jones Featuring Joey DeFrancesco: ArtWork

"Those who know, know" happens to be a soon-to-be-overused phrase to describe the hip, the "In," and "the very elite of aware." Now in his Mid-80s,

Jack Jones

vocals
b.1938

" data-original-title="" title="">Jack Jones has maintained a stellar, cross-media career, all on a foundation of a once-in-a-lifetime voice.

" data-original-title="" title="">Mel Torme, one not easily prone to hyperbole, called Jones, "the best pure singer in the business." Torme and others in the Vocal Pantheon knew.

With ArtWork, Jones joins forces with the late multi-instrumentalist and jazz savant,

Joey DeFrancesco

organ, Hammond B3
1971 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Joey DeFrancesco to cover fifteen selections some of which Jones is re-visitng ("One Day, "This Is All I Ask," "If You Go Away") drawn from the GAS, pop/contemporary, Broadway, and other music worlds. Jones is backed by an A-List L.A. Orchestra, playing outstanding and meticulously-integrated arrangements by

John Clayton

bass
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">John Clayton. The album, predominantly weighted with slower, more textural material, is a composition of talent, elegance, production, and yes, those still-golden Jones pipes.

A jazzy-blue version of the

Peggy Lee

vocals
1920 - 2002

" data-original-title="" title="">Peggy Lee hit "Fever" (one of two selections associated with Lee, a friend of the artist, opens the show with Jones singing the familiar lyrics while DeFrancesco and the big band support.. However, avoiding mimicry, Jones puts his own signature on the tune.

Etta James

vocals
1938 - 2012

" data-original-title="" title="">Etta James' classic "At Last" has Jones crooning deep, soulful joy with DeFrancesco's organ superbly duetting him.

Jones' voice has seasoned, as one might expect, and there's an abundance of 60+ years wisdom present in his entire approach. However, his multiple-octave range and ability to invest and refine lyric and melody (along with "pocket pitch" and impeccable breath control) is still very much right there. Where applied, DeFrancesco's big groove B-3 is a perfect complement and frame for the vocalist. Further, his trumpet and saxophone chops are not only superb, but, are musically and expressively fitting for both singer and material.

A brilliant production choice and one of many in the album,

Gregory Porter

vocals
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Gregory Porter's "If Love Is Overrated" is another slower, beautifully orchestrated track in which Jones' interpretation is marvelous and DeFrancesco's fine organ solo includes a very subtle, but noticeable "Love Boat Theme" quote as a tip to Jones who sang the original TV show theme. The supremely Franco-romantic, heart-tugging "If You Go Away" is a textbook study in expression sans syrup. "Empty Chairs," a selection from "American Pie's" Don McLean, offers a cinematic string introduction leading Jones' less countrified rendition.

Billy Strayhorn

piano
1915 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Strayhorn's iconic "Lush life," the Holy Grail of melody, lyric, and entendre, showcases Jones' ability to work a lyric to sublime, almost dramatic levels. "Here's to Life" has DeFrancesco Harmon-muted,

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis-like trumpet launching Jones in what is obviously homage to a Jones mentor (and artwork contributor to the cover),

Tony Bennett

vocals
1926 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Bennett. A song from the Golden Days of Crooners, including

Frank Sinatra

vocals
1915 - 1998

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and

Nat King Cole

piano and vocals
1919 - 1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Nat King Cole, "This Is All I Ask" is truly gorgeous track with Jones returning to a tune he released in 1966. The comparison listening of the recordings is fascinating and reflects the aforementioned sagacity. Drenched in hopeful longing, "One Day" from the Bergmans and

Michel Legrand

piano
1932 - 2019

" data-original-title="" title="">Michel Legrand closes the curtain. As noted in Will Friedwald's informative liner notes, those last four tracks, all highly reflective in lyric and tone, are especially poignant at this time for the artist.

Much can and should be said about John Clayton's brilliant arranging and conducting here. His textural approach of big band, strings, harp, and French Horns with the essence and message of each of the tunes and their performer is an aural delicacy.

Jeff Hamilton

drums
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Hamilton's Trio of

Tamir Hendelman

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Tamir Hendelman and

Jon Hamar

bass, acoustic
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Hamar along with guitarist

Graham Dechter

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Graham Dechter (featured on "This Masquerade" a la

George Benson

guitar
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">George Benson) lay subtle rhythmic nuance and never intrude.

There's no doubt that this marvelous and brilliantly presented portrait is, in some way, a Jones retrospective that undeniably validates his Pantheon presence. The production values are absolutely impeccable. Perhaps the album's title states it best: it is, indeed, art work—a masterpiece.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Fever; Hello; At Last; If Love Is Overrated; Not While I��m Around; She��s Funny That Way; This Masquerade; If You Go Away; Empty Chairs; Lush Life; Is That All There Is; Here��s to Life; This Is All I Ask; One Day.

Personnel

Jack Jones

vocals

Joey DeFrancesco

organ, Hammond B3

Jeff Hamilton

drums

Tamir Hendelman

piano

John Hamar

bass

Graham Dechter

guitar

Bijon Watson

trumpet

Clay Jenkins

trumpet

James Ford

trumpet

Kye Palmer

trumpet

Keith Fiddmont

saxophone, tenor

Jacob Scesney

saxophone, baritone

Rickey Woodard

saxophone, tenor

Bob Sheppard

saxophone, tenor

Adam Schroeder

saxophone, baritone

Ira Nepus

trombone

Francisco Torres

trombone

Scott Whitfield

trombone

Juliane Gralle

trombone, bass

Allen Fogel

french horn

John Clayton

bass

Jon Hamar

bass, acoustic

Additional Instrumentation

John Clayton: Arranger/Conductor, Katelyn Faraudo, Elizabeth Upton, Adam Wolf: horn; Petri Korpela: percussion; Richard Adkins, Armen Anassian, Lauren Baba, Mark Cargill, Susan Chatman, Daphne Chen, Mario DeLeon, Joel Derouin, Yvette Devereaux, Benjamin Jacobson, Marisa Kuney, Songa Lee, Ileathern McLeod, Michele Richards, Scott Tixier, Fumiko Wellington, Christopher Woods: violin; Rodney Wirtz, Caroline Buckman, Leah Katz, Robin Ross, Stefan Smith, Colleen Sugata: viola; Trevor Handy, Cecilia Tsan, Niall Ferguson, Timothy Loo, Giovanna Clayton: cello; Gayle Levant: harp.

Album information

Title: ArtWork | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Cavalry Productions

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