Album Review
JaRon Eames literally came down to Earth to start his vocal career. He was employed by Japan Airlines and quit in 1977 to start his career as an entertainer. His objective was to revive the salon singer (the male counterpart to cabaret) style of entertainment. He has worked with Barry Harris, Dorothy Donegan, and a host of other prestigious jazz personalities. Sounds Good to Me! is the singer's second album, with a play list of 11 tunes designed to show his versatility. They also show his very supple and flexible set of vocal chords as he warbles and trills soul, the blues, funky R&B, and high-steppin' swing tunes. Eames sounds like Lou Rawls, if Rawls worked in a higher register. He also uses a slight vibrato to very good advantage on tunes such as "Guilty" and "Doggin Around." The kick-off tune brings funk to the fore buttressed by Michael Weisberger's Hal Singer-like tenor, which provides the rhythm to Eames' blues. In contrast, Weisberger's sax uses dulcet tones behind Eames' emotional version of "My One and Only Love." Eames appears to come from the same school as singers and groups like Johnny Ray and the Platters, who felt that no one would take them seriously unless they brought a sense of desperation to their voice. Eames can swing as well as emote, as on "Shake, Rattle and Roll" and a faster-than-the-speed-of-light "Them There Eyes," where he unpacks his scatting and other wordless vocalizing apparatus. Matters get downright earthy with "I Want a Little Girl." Pianist Amy Quint, who hung in there throughout the session and provided excellent support for the singer, gets to show off a minimalist approach to the piano with some solo time. And Weisberger is still wailing away on the sax (this time the alto). A highlight track is the fervent rendering of Sam Cooke's gospel-oriented "A Change Is Gonna Come." This is a happy combination of intense, passionate singing with swinging and some fun thrown in to lighten things up. Eames obviously enjoys what he's doing, and judging from this album, is a vocal force to be reckoned with. Recommended.
