MIKE JONES WITH STRINGS

Capri Records Ltd.

Mike Jones, piano; Alex Frank, bass; Graham Dechter, guitar.

Mike Jone shuffles into my listening room playing a delightful arrangement of the Gershwin tune, “Oh, Lady Be Good.”  Alex Frank walks his double bass jubilantly and Graham Dechter strums his guitar. Together, they create a rich rhythm section groove. Jones lets his fingers fly over the piano keys, improvising wildly. This album was recorded live at Vic’s Supper Club in Las Vegas.  I think it’s the guitar prodigy, Graham Dechter who is laying down a percussive beat at the top of the tune, probably tapping the percussion out on the body of his guitar. That apropos percussion returns when Alex Frank takes his bass solo.  This tune leaps off my CD player with great joy and spontaneity.

They follow this stellar beginning with another swinging arrangement of “Gone with the Wind.”  The Mike Jones trio is fire!

They settle me down with a slow swing presentation of “Autumn Leaves” where Graham Dechter takes an impressive guitar solo. The spontaneous applause that follows says it all.  I want to applaud too.

This is a trio that swings from start to finish.  You will enjoy such tunes as Oscar Peterson’s “Kelly’s Blues” and the 1926 standard, “Deed I do.”  It’s played at a speedy tempo with more of Decter’s improvised percussion added.  Mike Jones plays a mean piano.  His fingers race through the groove like fire engines on their way to a five-alarm fire. The trio offers several songs from the great American song book like “The Very Thought of You” and “Exactly Like You.”  Each is delivered with quality musicianship and a boat load of swing.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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