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 has maintained a stellar, cross-media career, all on a foundation of a once-in-a-lifetime voice. 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 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. 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 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' 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'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'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-like trumpet launching Jones in what is obviously homage to a Jones mentor (and artwork contributor to the cover), Tony Bennett. A song from the Golden Days of Crooners, including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and 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 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's Trio of Tamir Hendelman and Jon Hamar along with guitarist Graham Dechter (featured on "This Masquerade" a la 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.

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