Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Eugenie Jones: Eugenie

Eugenie Jones: Eugenie

By Richard J Salvucci
January 23, 2025
View read count

Eugenie Jones

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Eugenie Jones seems to be another one of those singers who did not start out as one but got there as soon as she could. Make no mistake, she ended up in the right profession, self-confessedly in the tradition of

Nina Simone

piano and vocals
1933 - 2003

" data-original-title="" title="">Nina Simone and

Abbey Lincoln

vocals
1930 - 2010

" data-original-title="" title="">Abbey Lincoln. Jones writes as well, and several of her own songs, "Starlight Starbright," "Hold Back the Night," "It's OK," "Nothing Better" and "Say What You Will" round out a recording of a selection of classics by

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington,

Earle H. Hagen

composer / conductor
1919 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Earle H. Hagen,

Nat Adderley

trumpet
1931 - 2000

" data-original-title="" title="">Nat Adderley,

Aretha Franklin

vocals
1942 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Aretha Franklin, and Nina Simone, among others. Soul jazz, gospel-inflected, burned out and bluesy: it is all here. Someone might be tempted to call this jazz for a wintry day, but it would probably work just as well on a summer's night as well. Jones is that kind of singer, a storyteller: some days turn out well, while others do not. What makes it all work is a supple voice, plenty of good musicians, and a knowing, if sometimes world-weary voice of experience. Given the tenor of life in post-pandemic America, Jones leaves a listener with plenty to think about. Or to simply float with, if the mood strikes.

In a business crowded with singers, Jones may be something of a fresh face, but she is hardly a newcomer. With four releases to her credit dating to 2013, this Seattle-based performer may well be a bit of a diamond-in-the-rough. Her strength, good chops aside, is a very strong style that colors virtually all her performances. Sometimes a singer's signature sound can ironically limit his or her audience: listeners mistake a powerful style for a lack of variety. In Jones' case, she is indeed a powerhouse, but not unsubtle, for she can do both "Natural Woman" and "Work Song" with ease and conviction. With such good players in her band—like bassist

Lonnie Plaxico

bass
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Lonnie Plaxico—giving them a bit more space—as she does in "It Don't Mean a Thing"—might add a bit of contrast. It will not hurt her performance a bit. Not surprising, perhaps, original instrumentals like "Work Song" and Harlem Nocturne adapt easily to Jones' vocal performance. Trumpeter

Gil Defay

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Gil Defay and saxophonist

Rico Jones

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Rico Jones are certainly worth their chorus, or even more, because they raise the temperature and add to the music's interest.

Ella Fitzgerald

vocals
1917 - 1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Ella Fitzgerald taught us hip tunes make for hip singing, and Eugenie Jones is nothing, if not hip.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Why I Sing; Starlight Starbright; It Don't Mean A Thing; Hold Back The Night; Sinnerman; It's Okay; I Love Being Here With You; Natural Woman; Work Song; Nothing Better; Say What You Will; Trouble Man; Harlem Nocturne.

Personnel

Eugenie Jones

vocals

Brandon McCune

organ, Hammond B3

Mamiko Watanabe

piano

Gil Defay

trumpet

Rico Jones

saxophone

Jessica Yang

cello

Yoojin Park

violin

Lonnie Plaxico

bass

Russell Carter

saxophone

Kahlil Bell

percussion

Darrius Willrich

keyboards

Michael Powers Music

guitar

Elliott Kuykendall

bass

Ronnie Bishop

drums

Album information

Title: Eugenie | Year Released: 2025 | Record Label: Openmic

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Live from the Archive
< Previous

Rediscovering PAZ And More
Next >

Eugenie Jones Concerts

Oct 18 Sat

Eugenie Jones

Mr. Henry's Restaurant
Washington, DC

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.