BWW Reviews: Actor/Singer BILL A. JONES Knocks 'Em Dead at the E-Spot Lounge

On Saturday May 23 actor/singer Bill A. Jones, known to thousands of cheering fans as Rod Remington of Fox TV's Glee, brought his one-man show Frank, Bobby & Me to the E-Spot Lounge at Vitello's in Studio City. This man is not only handsome with an affable charm onstage, but can truly sing these old standards with a smooth delivery... and with the fine easy-going style that they deserve. The packed SRO crowd would surely agree. Backed by three stellar musicians, musical director Paul McDonald at the keys, Steve Pemberton on drums and Kurt Smith on bass - known as Paul McDonald the A Players - for 90 minutes the "joint was really jumpin' ".

Growing up in Nashville, Tennessee surrounded by so much country music, Jones explained how he came to love the Bing Crosby Christmas Album. It was part of the Columbia Record Club that his parents joined. As a kid, he would listen gleefully to "Jingle Bells" with all the skips that one could possibly hear on discs, and such was his education in the old musical standards. Not trying to imitate these singers, Jones just sings their tunes with his own natural voice, so the electricity generated is totally his own. Highlights of Frank Sinatra were: "Fly Me to the Moon", "Chicago", and "I've Got You Under My Skin". From Walden Robert Cassotto's side of the fence - known as Bobby Darin - he offered "Clementine", "Up a Lazy River", and of course, a dynamite rendition of "Mack the Knife". Also on tap was "Where or When?", "A Foggy Day in London Town" and "A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square", another Sinatra favorite. Paying tribute to songwriter Harry Woods, there was "River, Stay 'way from My Door" in combo with "Up a Lazy River" by Hoagy Carmichael and Sidney Arodin. And from Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse, he gave us the ultimately dramatic "What Kind of Fool Am I?"

About two weeks ago Jones appeared in this year's S.T.A.G.E. benefit To Broadway From Hollywood with Love. His partner that evening was Sally Struthers, who graciously agreed to be his special guest for this concert. The two recreated "Just in Time" from Bells Are Ringing, she in the famous Judy Holliday role of telephone answering service operator Ella Peterson. Struthers is a knockout performer and always a joy to watch. He is so reserved and she so vivacious and funny, that together their mix was deliciously laid-back, drole and uber enjoyable. McDonald is a sensational pianist/accompanist, and he and the boys did a lovely medley of tunes about midway through the program.

Whether it be the sassy "Cuando, Cuando, Cuando" or the thrilling "Some of These Days", Bill A. Jones can really sell a song. He inhabits each fully and sends it across the footlights with TLC. His show is truly representative of that old Vegas style singing show that you just don't see any more. It brings back all the fond memories of Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Bobby Darin and the other greats of that era. Jones is that good and you do not want to miss him whenever and wherever he performs.

Jones has two great CDs: Frankly with all the memorable Sinatra hits & I've Heard That Song Before, the Big Band Songbook, both available at his website:

http://www.billajones.com

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Just a word of thanks to the staff and crew of the E-Spot Lounge: the food and service were great and the new room is a huge improvement over the former one. It seats more people comfortably ...and the acoustical sound is of much better quality. I will return!

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