March 2011 – The Jazz Times

Love Makes the Changes (ASPEN)

Love Makes the Changes (ASPEN)

This isn’t the first time Jack Jones has paid tribute to the Bergmans. Four decades ago Jones released Sings Michel Legrand, with nine of 10 tracks featuring Bergman lyrics. Back then, Jones was still singing with choirboy purity. Understandably, at age 73, his once unblemished sound is now sprinkled with gravel, but in its imperfection it has bcome more compelling. He has also adopted a looser, easier style and a deeper emotional sincerity. Succinctly, one of the all-time great pop singers has emerged as a great jazz vocalist.
Only one Bergman selection, the Oscar-winning “The Windmills of Your Mind,” carries over from that 1971 session. The new playlist moves beyond Legrand to further embrace four other A-list composers (Dave Grusin, Marvin Hamlish, Johnny Mandel, Lew Spence) who have served as frequentBergman Collaborators. Backed by pianist Mike Renzi, bassist Chris Colangelo and drummer Kendal Kay, Jones mines familier bergman gems – “Nice ‘n’ Easy,” “The Summer Knows,” “It Might Be You,” “The Way We Were” skillfully merged with “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?” – while also offering up such wonderful rarities as Legrand’s “In Another Life” and Grusin’s “What Matters Most.”
Impressive as Jones is throughout, equal credit is due to Renzi, one of the most simpatico allies a singer could hope for. It is Renzi, as accompanist, music director and arranger, who showcases the now richly variegated Jones to full advantage.