New Jack Swing

Jack Jones | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 9, 1997)
• Original Release Date: October 9, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: The Gold Label
• ASIN: B000003997
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,984 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #32 in Music > Indie Music > Jazz > Vocal Jazz
  • #34 in Music > Indie Music > Soundtracks > General
  • #40 in Music > Indie Music > Pop > Traditional & Vocal Pop

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Penultimate Jack Jones, November 4, 2004

By 

Samuel Chell (Kenosha,, WI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: New Jack Swing (Audio CD)

This album appeared two years before Jack's quintessential "Jack Jones Paints a Tribute to Tony Bennett." No doubt its up-tempo, fully-orchestrated arrangements will appeal to many listeners more than the later album. At the very least, however, it should be seen as a complement to its essential successor.

The liner notes claim Jack is the only singer whose "musical intelligence and vocal chops" qualify him to pick up the Sinatra mantel (Jack himself dedicates the album to Sinatra). No argument from me. Even apart from some significant differences, Jack's voice now has a Sinatra "edge" to it, permitting him to grab on to notes in a manner that, say, Tony Bennett or Bobby Caldwell cannot. The man clearly can swing. (Recently a musical acquaintance challenged me to support that claim. Admittedly, there's discouragingly little recorded evidence, but I simply played the following two juxtapositions: "All or Nothing at All"--1st Barry Manilow's version from a mid-90s recording with the Harry James (ghost) band, then Jack Jones' version; 2nd, Sting's "Every Breath You Take" as performed by The Police followed by Jack's rollicking take on the tune. At that point I was able to rest my case, though I had Jack's "Mack the Knife" ready for insurance.)

But there are definitely some serious caveats: Most of the tunes on the collection are contemporary ephemera. Perhaps all the more to Jack's credit that he, like Sinatra, is able to transform all but one into enjoyable, foot-tapping performances (the exception being "Color of the Wind"). But another inescapable feature of the album is the generic, formulaic quality of the arrangements. No Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Neal Hefti, or Johnny Mandel on board here. In fact, the use of electric bass and what sounds like a digital piano reminds me of some of the karaoke tracks used by wannabe crooners. The arrangements are admittedly feasible and the playing polished but at the same time quite "mechanical." Whereas a Sinatra album almost always conveyed the sense of a total event--the presence and freedom of a singer being recorded in front of a large orchestra in "real time"--I can easily imagine Jack laying down his voice to these tracks at a later date.

The answer? The later ballad album, with its sensitive and frequently exquisite, in-the-moment accompaniment by Mike Renzi's trio, along with some of the most inspired, heart-felt performances by a male singer since, well, "Only the Lonely," "In the Wee Small Hours," and "No One Cares."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars SOME HIP TRAX TO MAKE YOU RELAX, November 21, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New Jack Swing (Audio CD)

Jack Jones still sounds as fresh as ever. His new rendition of "The Love Boat Theme" is cool,peppy! This album is somthing we 4o+ can continue to enjoy..

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jack Jones -- A Voice for Eternity, November 29, 1999

By 

F. Barton "Forrest W. Barton" (Newport, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: New Jack Swing (Audio CD)

This album consists of great songs, sung by the very stylish Jack Jones. My only complaint, is that the album doesn't have more on it. "Dangerous Mood" is terrific, a la Joe Williams, and Jones gives it his trademark pow! "Color of the Wind" is a beautiful song, that will make any parent cry. The arrangements and mixdown are top-notch. You can't go wrong with this!