Even before reading the liner notes, I took a listen to this album by singer Jack Wood and thought “this guy took his Jack Jones pills!”. Sure enough, the album waws inspired by the Boomer Crooner, and is better for it. Jack Wood has a confidence in his deliver, mixing a bit of Rat Pack swagger with Vic Damone warmth with an album of standards that range from clever big band charts to intimate small group affairs. The latter actually works better, with an intimate medley of “What is this Thing Called Love/I Could Write A Book” having him sound confident and casual with Joe Pass-inspired guitarist Doug MacDonald, a very hip “Falling In Love With Love” guided by Hilliard Greene’s bass and nimble small group swingers “For Every Man There’s A Woman” and “Our Day Will Come”. Delightful.
The big band outings aren’t exactly second fiddle, as Wood travels down noir alley on “Old Devil Moon” and brings a rich and dark vibrato to the muted “We Were Lovers”. He has a Torme’-ish lilt on the richly supported “Laura” while the soft rhythm section slowly segues into a big bold swingfest on “It Had To Be You”. A tuxedo junction of sounds.