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The 50th Anniversary Tour 2008

Legendary singer Jack Jones returns with his Big Band to the UK in May 2008 for his 13-date tour, which includes Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester and London.

Jack is one of the last great singers of his generation. He received two Grammy awards for ‘Best Pop Male Vocal Performance’ for “Lollipops and Roses” and “Wives and Lovers”. He received a Grammy nomination for ‘Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance’ for his “Jack Jones Paints a Tribute To Tony Bennett”. He was also honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, not far from where his father’s star is located.

With more than 50 recorded albums of which 17 featured on the Billboard’s Top 20, Jack sang the theme tune to The Love Boat, The Bliss of Mrs Brossom and Where Love Has Gone. He appeared in Airplane 2: The Sequel and British comedy film Cruise of the Gods with Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon and David Walliams.

Jack attended the University High School in West Los Angeles whilst studying drama and singing with private teachers chosen by his father Allan Jones who was already an established singer and movie star (A Day At The Races, 1937, Showboat, 1936; A Night At The Opera, 1935). A young athlete Jack gave up his track and football team sports to devote himself to serious study of the arts.

It was as a result of his friend Nancy Sinatra who invited her father to sing in the school auditorium that left Jack with an unforgettable experience that was to shape his career choice.

Jack’s first professional debut was as part of his father’s act at The Thunderbird Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas at the age of 19. Three weeks later he took odd jobs to support himself whilst pursuing his singing career.

Jacks first album was released on Kapp, while holding down a job as a gas station attendant; he was surprised to hear one of his tracks playing on the radio whilst washing a customer’s windscreen. He has since gone on to record with RCA, Honest Entertainment and Capitol Records.

Jack performs around the world at venues such as the Oak Room, New York, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Centre and the White House. His concerts continue to sell out around the world.

WHAT DOES THIS 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR MEAN TO JACK?

“I’m so looking forward to this tour. It’s like reuniting with old friends. We’ll have a wonderful party. English audiences have been my favorites most of my career. Every one of my British tours has attracted many loyal fans, many of who travel from city to city to catch different performances. I’m really excited that the last concert on this tour will be at the London Palladium, my favorite place to perform in the entire world.”

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO BE DIFFERENT FROM BEFORE?

“I receive letters from fans expressing which of the songs I sing is their favorite. I plan to include as many of those as possible. I want this show to be truly representative of my 50 years in show business. The problem is that I have people who follow me from city to city and attend every show. In fact, I know many of these people by name. They range in age from young adults newly attracted to pop and jazz to older people who have grown up with this kind of music. Having a teenage daughter of my own, I can appreciate the importance of presenting my music in a way that young people can enjoy as much as their parents do.”

ANY SURPRISES?

“I plan to introduce more humor in my performance in the form of special lyrics and the selection of numbers. My daughter, Nicole, who is very much into music herself, has had a strong influence on my performances. She has performed with me on a number of occasions and would do more if it didn’t interfere with school. I even surprise myself in the interpretation I give to some of my classic numbers. I’m constantly evolving as a performer and that’s been both surprising and exciting at this point in my career.”

QUOTES:

A hint of gritty reediness has crept into the superb instrument that is Jack Jones’ voice; but that doesn’t hinder his soaring musicality and control as the ageless warbler wended his way through a daunting 17-number set at Hollywood’s main jazz watering hole, Catalina Bar & Grill. Working with a four-piece band led by pianist Tom Garvin, Jones immediately established his credentials with a show-opening, slow-four journey through Lionel Bart’s “Where Is Love,” highlighted by Jones’ breath-defying hold on a single high note that was as pure in tone as it was perfect in pitch.
Variety Magazine, August 07

As I’ve said at least twice in the New York Sun already, Jack Jones, like Tony Bennett, is one of the last of the great old school pop-jazz singers who are still performing at the top of their game. Tonight is his last night at The Oak Room. I heartily recommend him, especially if you’ve never seen him live.
Political Mavens web site

  Jack Jones is sharing songs, and emotions, at the Oak Room.
  Mr. Jones’s voice matches his appearance. A supple pop-jazz baritone, it is an impeccably maintained instrument in which perfect intonation coincides with phrasing that seems relaxed but is really calculated to the last syllable and breath. In the four decades since his insipid first hit, “Lollipops and Roses,” it has deepened and acquired layers of texture and shading. On top of that is a surprise ingredient: an upper register (almost a falsetto) into which he suddenly bursts to express a wild, swinging exuberance. Such extreme polish can be a barrier to intimate communication. But Mr. Jones has learned to create an emotionally compelling dialogue out of the distance between his public and private selves.
Richard Termine for The New York Times

“had nostalgic fans eating out of his hand … impeccable timing, perfect microphone technique and mature assurance … with some superb big band arrangements”.
London Evening Standard

“one of the great interpreters of the American Song-book, and he’s singing better and better and better.”
Tony Bennett

“A remarkable, effortless, wonderfully warm enchanting performance.”
The Mail on Sunday

“One of the major singers of our time”.
Frank Sinatra

“the greatest singer ‘pure’ singer in the world”.
Mel Torme

“Best jazz singer in the world”
Judy Garland

 >> ARTIST PROFILE: Jack Jones
 >> FULL RADIOCAFE PROFILE: Jack Jones

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