Ron Kaplan & Weber Iago
Saloon: the Ron Kaplan Weber Iago album
Kapland Records 2005

©Kapland Records 2005

The last few years has seen an upsurge (albeit a gentle one) in vocalists singing in the jazz school - Norah Jones and Jamie Cullum come to mind immediately, thanks to their chart albums. But there are singers who have been championing the 'Great American songbook' for quite a while, and Ron Kaplan is one of these.

This is my first introduction to Mr Kaplan's music and I guess that if you are a fan of the Sinatra school of jazz/easy listening music then you will really enjoy this album. This is a simple album, just the piano accompaniment of Weber Iago and Ron Kaplan's intimate vocals. Recording quality of this album is excellent, both voice and piano are miked so that it seems like the performers are sitting next to you.

I assume the album title 'Saloon' refers to the type of vocal style. There is a faint whiff of the karaoke about it, but this is far outweighed by the sheer style of the performance. The album is relatively short, just nine tracks, but all classic songs by Duke Ellington (I'm Just A Lucky So and So), George Gershwin ('S Wonderful/I Got Rhythm, Nice Work If You Can Get It), Bacharach and David (Alfie), Anthony Newley (Who Can I Turn To) and others. If you are a fan of the classic 'crooners' I think you ought to check this album out, that era isn't dead yet.