Let It Go

It looks like the liner photos for Jon Regen’s new CD, Let It Go, were shot at the surprisingly photogenic Steinway & Sons piano factory in Queens. It would make sense, since Regen is a Steinway artist, like his early mentor, Kenny Barron. While Regen often records in a singer-songwriter bag, he has deep jazz roots, which he pays tribute to in this month’s Keyboard magazine with a profile of Barron. Regen writes: “Even after years of listening to the liturgy of jazz piano, hearing Kenny for the first time changed everything for me.”

Barron stressed the need for flexibility with his students, and Regen appears to have taken that to heart, as Let It Go, is a melodic set of vocal pop tunes, seasoned with jazz accents. Fortunately, Regen has the chops for it. His voice is strong and clear, with a slight edge for character. (While it is well suited to his songs, it would be interesting to hear him try a hoary old blues standard sometime.)

The title track is a great opener, with the piano and drums really jumping out of the speakers (the audio engineers out there should approve). It is a bit unusual to hear a song of female empowerment written from a sympathetic male perspective, but Regen delivers the lyrics convincingly, and his piano gives it a great driving vibe.

The next track, “It’s Alright By Me,” suggests a Randy Newman influence. As a serenade for a quirky courtship, it really sounds tailor-made for a film soundtrack. Again, Regen’s vocal interpretation comes across honestly, and the mix of piano and organ is always a great combination.

Andy Summers, one of several high profile guests on LIG, is of course best known as a member of the Police. However, in his solo work he has recorded jazz, so it makes sense he could relate to Regen’s pop vocal/jazz crossover music. He lends of his guitar to “Close to Me,” which thematically recalls “Every Breath You Take,” but is less stalkerish.

Another well known artist joining Regen is Martha Wainwright, adding subtle backing vocals on the heartfelt “I Come Undone.” Throughout LIG, loss and hope alternate as themes in Regen’s songs. While “Undone” is most definitely conveys the former, a tune like “Better Days” nicely expresses the latter. Regen’s jazz roots peak out occasionally too. He plays a brief instrumental solo fittingly called “Interlude,” and “Disappear,” has some space for piano statements.

I may be a jazz person more than a pop person (safe understatement) but I do get to a number of Broadway shows, so I feel comfortable giving Regen credit as a songwriter. He has crafted some catchy melodies with some memorable lyrics. I have often found myself humming the title track over the last week or so. It should definitely appeal to fans of his songwriting influences, like Newman and Bruce Hornsby.

(Note: Regen will play the Highline Ballroom 1/30 before leaving on a European tour.)

Plugs

You, the J.B. Spins reader, are a coveted audience. Dozens of press releases hit my in-box every day, announcing events and other stuff to plug. Here’s a quick round-up of some interesting things I will pass along.

The first comes via a post from Karol. Evidently a friend of hers will try to eat more than a dog to raise money for a charity. I don’t really get how that works, and don’t really want to. However, the charity looks impressive. Pups for Peace sounds like a touchy-feely hippy outfit, but what they do is really cool. They train bomb-sniffing dogs to combat Palestinian suicide/homicide bombers. This is work that saves lives. Eat up, man.

I know several people at Health Corps, a non-profit founded by Dr. Mehmet Oz to provide health education and mentoring in high schools. On Friday the 18th, they are sponsoring “Saints and Spinners,” a 24-hour stationary bike marathon in Grand Central, featuring different celebrity riders throughout the day, and hopefully setting a Guinness World Record. Guest spinners scheduled to appear include: Miss USA Rachel Smith, Miss Universe Riyo Mori, and Miss Teen USA Hilary Cruz. I’m just saying.

If you’re looking for the perfect accessory, consider a Cambio bracelet. All the cool kids are wearing them. Seriously, these young people are as cool as cool gets, defying Castro’s thugs for the sake of their country’s future. Cambio means change, which Cuba desperately needs. It has become their slogan, which they have worn on white bracelets, at tremendous risk to their lives and safety. All people of good conscience should wear one in solidarity. (I do.)

On a lighter note, I expect to post a review of John Regen’s latest CD early next week—I’m just not done chewing on it yet. Regen has an impressive jazz background, but his own sessions are more in the singer-songwriter vein. He gigs at the Cutting Room tomorrow night at 9:30 PM, before leaving on a European tour. Check out the tunes on his myspace page, and if you don’t have plans, consider going. Look for a review of Let It Go here soon.

Most of us have the 21st off for King Day, but not the staff of Merkin Hall. To celebrate their grand reopening, they are hosting a free Grand Piano Marathon of solo performances from 2:00 -8:00 PM. The scheduled artists include Anat Fort, one of the best jazz pianists on the scene today (her latest CD, A Long Story was one of the Top 10 of 2007), and New Orleans’ own up-and-coming jazz star Jonathan Batiste. I’ll be there for a while, at least (exit and re-entry will be allowed).

If there isn’t anything here to interest you, do not despair. I’ll have plenty more stuff by the end of the day.