Long a journeyman pianist but underrated and recorded too rarely,
John Eaton is actually a talented melodic swing player. For this solo set, he performs nine
Hoagy Carmichael and eight
Cole Porter songs. Both
Carmichael and
Porter were born in Indiana, although otherwise they shared little in common.
Eaton does justice to both of their songbooks, caressing and lightly swinging such melodies as "Stardust," "Anything Goes," "Washboard Blues," "Night and Day," "Baltimore Oriole," and "From This Moment On." He also sings "Just One of Those Things" and "Memphis in June" with sensitivity, if not a virtuoso voice. An 11-and-a-half-minute "Jazzspeak" is a mini-lecture in which
Eaton discusses in an informative and interesting manner the music of
Hoagy Carmichael and
Cole Porter. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow