High Standards

Ron Kaplan | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 30, 2010)
• Original Release Date: April 27, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Kapland Records
• ASIN: B00000IYV9
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #761,028 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Ron Kaplan High Standards Kapland Records 1997 Ron Kaplan, vocals; Smith Dobson, piano; Stan Poplin, bass; Steve Robertson, drums; Donny McCaslin Jr., Paul Contos, tenor saxophone On his appropriately titled album Kaplan sings 11 standards or Jazz classics with flair and a lot of heart. Backed by a piano trio on seven selections and an expanded group on the others that includes either McCaslin or Contos on tenor, Kaplan wends his way through the popular material by adding a classy touch and a taste of soul. Kaplan's voice is smooth in the Mel Torme sense of the term, and he has a similar pinch of verve to add spice to the songs. Although Kaplan does not deviate substantially from the prescribed melody, his accompanying musicians do. The result is a very pleasant balance between melody and improvisation that gives the recording much of its appeal. For deviation, he sings alternate lyrics to Silvers 'Song for My Father' that appear more appropriate than the more familiar version. Pianist Dobson takes the lead during the vocal breaks and stretches the tune's perimeters while Poplin and Robertson spur him on. When the tenor players enter, the pieces take on added dash. Kaplan can be linked to the vocalist of the past who merged the Jazz esthetic with the melodic popular element to produce music that appealed to both camps. His light-handed approach and easy singing style are qualities that make him a very likeable commodity. He has chosen to drive along a well-traveled road, yet he produces music that has you singing along with his lyrics or grooving with the instrumental parts. His direction cannot be faulted. --by Frank Rubolino --Frank Rubolino Cadence

Jazz Improv Magazine 4/99 HIGH STANDARDS - Kapland Records 1997 (Kapland Records, P.O. Box 742. Aptos, CA 95001 --Eric Nemeyer Jazz Improv Magazine

Rapport Ron Kaplan - High Standards Ron Kaplan, Smith Dobson. Donny McCaslin Jr., Paul Contos, Stan Poplin, Steve Robertson. Kapland Records Jazz singers come and go; few have staying power. Kaplan is one you can bet will be around for some time. First, he's a true jazz singer who knows his way around a tune, swinging in the irreverent manner that made singers like Mark Murphy, Jackie Paris and Mel Tormé stars. Kaplan's a musician first and foremost, using his voice as an integral part of the jazz mode. His take on Summertime is a knockout, the man is in charge of the set. When he performs the old Dizzy Gillespie composition A Night in Tunisia he fits the music like a glove offering enough personal differences to make you pay attention. As a piece of variety, he takes Antonio Carlos Jobim's Dindi, leading off in a conversational manner. When Frank Sinatra made a hit out of the tune, it was that of a pop singer adapting the Brazilian music to his own talents; here Kaplan does the same but there's an even deeper jazz touch to the music. And much has to be said about this supporting cast, notably McCaslin Jr. on tenor sax and Dobson on piano, who contribute to this memorable interpretation. McCaslin's horn leads off the Mel Tormé composition, Born to Be Blue but Kaplan's voice, sad and emotion-filled, maintains the very bluesy feel of the tune. McCaslin Jr. and Dobson round out the music giving the whole entry a deeper and impressive result. Although Horace Silver's trademark tune, Song For My Father has rarely been performed as a vocal, when you hear Kaplan deliver the lyrics, you realize that, as good as Silver was instrumentally, Kaplan has performed very deserving words to the music. And giving credit where credit is certainly due, Dobson's piano work on the music is expert and Poplin's bass and the soft drums of Robertson make this a very unique and impressive outing for all concerned. There are many goodies on this disc. Autumn Leaves, Angel Eyes, Lazy Afternoon and My Favorite Things are other fine offerings. And when Kaplan returns to the works of Horace Silver with Senor Blues you know that Kaplan is very special, indeed. The slap-dash piano, the Poplin bass and Robertson's percussion make the whole disc a beauty. W.Y. --Rapport Magazine David Dreis

Product Description

High Standards by Ron Kaplan

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars RON KAPLAN / HIGH STANDARDS / KAPLAND (49:53), May 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: High Standards (Audio CD)

Monterey-area vocalist Ron Kaplan delivers a set of 11 American songbook chestnuts backed by a veteran trio of musician-educators, Smith Dobson, piano; Stan Poplin, bass; Steve Robertson, drums. Kaplan phrases with sophisticated ease at any tempo, scats sparingly, and gives his sidemen (including two guesting tenor saxmen) plenty of space as he glides through favorites such as "Dindi," "My Favorite Things," "Angel Eyes," and "Song For My Father." An auspicious debut.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ron Kaplan / High Standards / Kapland Records, June 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: High Standards (Audio CD)

The state of jazz in Santa Cruz County? Doing fine, thank you~at least judging by vocalist Ron Kaplan's debut release, High Standards. The title works two ways. With an all-star band including bassist Stan Poplin, drummer Steve Robertson, pianist Smith Dobson and sax greats Donny McCaslin, Jr. and Paul Contos, Kaplan obviously demands (and gets) much from his sidemen. And filled with time-honored favorites like "Summertime" and "Autumn Leaves", the album covers the work horses of jazz repertoire. The whole thing is full of tasteful arrangements and top-notch performance. Kaplan has a robust voice in the mold of Mel Torme and enough musical sense to step aside and let the band take a few choruses in the middle of songs. Though standards, the 11 cuts on High Standards, certainly aren't run-of-the-mill fare. Arrangers Kaplan, Dobson and Robertson put together some smoking reworkings that reveal the thoroughbred grace of tunes often treated in the hands of hacks like mules.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb musicians and the heart and soul of a mature vocalist, May 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: High Standards (Audio CD)

By Eric Nemeyer...Jazz Improv Magazine.... volume 1 number 4

High Standards presenting Ron Kaplan is a smart package, featuring superb musicians, and the heart and soul of a mature vocalist and leader. To introduce himself to a wider audience, Los Angeles native Kaplan has wisely chosen some of the more well-known compositions from the standard and jazz repertoire. Repertoire including compositions such as Gershwin's classic "Summertime" and "Song For My Father" make this album highly accessible. Add to that Kaplan's style and approach that is influenced by the enduring quality of great songstylists of the 1950's and 1960's and you have a winner.

High Standards is just that, from the moment you look at the album jacket and put on the CD until you hear the final notes of "Lazy Afternoon." The variety of ballads, swingers, and latin grooves are sequenced in an order that works well to maintain this listener's attention. It's apparent from the packaging, the quality design and the professional photography, that Kaplan has put alot of effort into this superb independently produced and distributed release.

This CD release is evidence of a musician who both loves the music, and has invested the necessary listening time to create and distribute a quality package.