JAZZ IMPROV MAGAZINE REVIEW APRIL 2000
Eric Nemeyer | Jenkintown, Pennsylvania | 05/09/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Personnel: Ron Kaplan, vocals; Larry Scala, guitar; Guiseppe Merolla, drums; Perry Thoorsell, bass; Donny McCaslin, tenor sax; Steve Czarnecki, Hammond B3 organ; Dmitri Matheny, flugelhorn. SOME ARTISTS create albums for their own enjoyment. Some artists create recordings for the apparent purpose of showing off their incredible technique to impress listeners, record executives and anyone they can get to lend an ear.RON KAPLAN is different. Ron Kaplan has impeccable taste. It's quite evident that Kaplan's second self-produced recording, LOUNGING AROUND, is sensitively put together for the listener's enjoyment. Kaplan has chosen a set of eleven appealing songs from the repertoire of Great American standards and jazz tunes. Kaplan opens the set with a relaxed rendition of the Johnny Burke-Jimmy Van Heusen classic, "Here's That Rainy Day," as a bossa nova. Kaplan has a distinctive and identifiable sound that is quite evident here. Donny McCaslin, a standout among today's active young tenor sax players contributes a sparkling solo. Kaplan employs some short, playful and apropos sound effects on this album. On "Here's That Rainy Day," the music is preceded with the sound of rain in the background; and you'll hear the sound of a whistle from a train chugging along, during the night, somewhere down the track, as the opening to "Blues In The Night." On "Blues In The Night,"Kaplan's intimate and elegant sound, is tantalizingly supported by the down home textures of Steve Czarnecki on Hammond B-3, and Larry Scala on guitar. Next up, is an Antonio Carlos Jobim favorite, "How Insensitive" in the distance you hear the echo of a lonely muted trumpet, out of tempo, playing a pensive cadenza-hinting at the sadness of the upcoming lyric. The rhythm section enters gracefully and, unexpectedly for this listener, provides Kaplan with an up-tempo samba groove. Kaplan delivers. Kaplan deftly communicates the mood and emotion of the lyric which is all about the heartfelt end of a love affair. Cole Porter's "Just One Of Those Things" is a medium up-tempo groover. A catchy introduction by McCaslin on tenor, also serves as the jumping off point for his in-the-pocket solo. This track is just right for Kaplan. Just the right tempo, the tune gives Kaplan just the right space to demonstrate his ability to swing. "Caravan," the classic by Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol opens with tango-like ostinato bass line. The other accompanists enter gently,and are shortly followed by Kaplan's smooth entrance, bringing the song and the players into focus. Tenor saxophonist McCaslin and Scala on guitar follow with tasteful solos. Kaplan's pensive rendition of "In The Wee Small Hours" is captivating. Accompanied during the first chorus by solo guitar, this performance is an example of Kaplan's most sensitive and thoughtful work. Kaplan, Matheny and Scala, fit together ideally to make magic on this one. Matheny's flugelhorn solo is debonair. Some artists use diversity to anthologize themselves and prove that they can be everything to everybody. Kaplan employs diversity for the benefit of the listener, and "LOUNGING AROUND" is an example of the use of diversity to personalize this album to please the listener. Eric Nemeyer, Publisher Jazz Improv Magazine"
Amazing!
Eric Nemeyer | 05/08/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is Kaplan's second album, but certainly not second best in quality. Kaplan's voice is smooth, seemless, and seductive. The music is wonderful as always. I would recommend this album to anyone who likes jazz and wants to bring back classic jazz standards."
SINGER RON KAPLAN DELVES INTO THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK ON
Sandi Porter | Colorado | 08/01/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For the past 50 years, a lot of people have loved the sound of a guy singing classic jazz standards - singers like Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., Perry Como and, of course, Sinatra. There are a few modern-day singers carrying the torch forward and one of them is Ron Kaplan. One of his best albums is LOUNGING AROUND with backing by a hot jazz combo -- guitar, bass, saxophone, drums, Hammond B3 organ and flugelhorn - the perfect backdrop for Ron's rich, warm vocals. The recording, as the title implies, captures the mood and ambience of a small jazz group as if they were mesmerizing a martini-sipping crowd at an intimate lounge. Although recorded in the studio, the feeling of the album is as if they were performing in your living room for you and a few friends. LOUNGING AROUND is full of tunes reflecting lost love and relationships that don't work, but with an undercurrent of redemption and hope always present, which is especially reflected in the closing piece, "What a Wonderful World." There are several ballads, blues numbers ("Blues in the Night" and "No One Ever Tells You"), a Brazilian melody by Antonio Carlos Jobim ("How Insensitive"), Cole Porter's uptempo "Just One of Those Things," the Lambert Hendricks & Ross self-pity wallow "Moanin'," and jazz perennials such as Duke Ellington's "Caravan." Kaplan has superb command of his flexible baritone that lets the listener immediately know Ron believes in what he is singing about. If you want to set the mood of a band and singer on stage at a dark, quiet downtown lounge where the crowd gathers to sip a few drinks and hear some mellow and tasteful sounds, put on Ron Kaplan's LOUNGING AROUND."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1