Etta Jones and Houston Person are a Jazz Lover’s Delight
There aren’t many old pros left in the jazz world anymore. But last night during their first show at the Page Four Lounge, 1502 W. Broadway, jazz singer Etta Jones and tenor saxophonist Houston Person taught a medium-sized audience what being a jazz veteran is all about.
Jones, 57, got her start in jazz in the early 1940s after entering an amateur contest at the Apollo Theatre in New York City. She worked with Buddy Johnson’s band and later with Earl Hines. She was with Hines at the same time Louisville-born trumpeter Jonah Jones worked with the band.
During an interview before last night’s show, Jones said, “A song has to mean something before I can sing it. It just can’t be a lot of words thrown together.”
Throughout her career Jones has chosen her material wisely. In 1959 she won a gold record for her hit single “Don’t Go to Strangers.” In 1981, her album “Save Your Love for Me” was nominated for a Grammy.
Jones has worked with tenor man Person for 17 years. Person is an exponent of the big-toned, no nonsense, mainstream school of saxophone playing. He started the show last night with a dynamite version of “If I Should Lose You.” Person is a big man, and he has a way of playing the saxophone that makes it look effortless. His technique is like greased lightning, you can hardly see his fingers move from the horn.
Person’s band is made up of organist David Braham and legendary drummer Billy James. James is a veteran of innumerable 1950s and ‘60s recording sessions with the likes of saxophonist Sonny Stitt and organist Don Patterson.
Person’s trio came on hot and stayed that way through a string of standards that included “These Foolish Things” and “Broadway.” The three also played a rarely heard bossa nova “Never Trust Your Heart.”
Next it was Jones turn. She bounced on to the stage, Person kicked off the tempo, and they ran through a swinging version of “It Could Happen to You.” Jones phrases like a horn and sings behind the beat. She patterned her style after Billie Holiday’s. She said during the interview, “One time when I was working 52nd Street in New York City and Billie Holiday was working at a nearby club, someone told her to come and see me because I had a style just like hers. She came in while I was singing and stood by the cash register. It nearly scared me to death.”
On the next number Jones slowed things down a little by singing Sammy Cahn’s classic “All the Way.” After she sang the first chorus Person followed with a beautiful solo of his own.
Jones has a wonderful musical relationship with Person, not unlike the one shared by Billie Holiday and great saxophonist Lester Young. While they’re performing together it’s almost as though there were two horns on stage instead of one. They compliment each other perfectly.
Jones said, “I was thrown in with great musicians from the beginning of my career. I’ve worked in bands with all the greats, drummer Art Blakey, violinist Stuff Smith. I even worked a couple of jobs with Charlie Parker. The musicians were a great help to me. I don’t read music, but I can feel it!”
Jones certainly felt everything she sang during last night’s performance. Several times people in the audience yelled out, “Yeah! Yeah!” while she sang songs such as “But Not For Me” and “I’ve Got it Bad.” Evidently a lot of them could feel it too.
Danny O’Bryan
Louisville Times - April 6, 1985
From the up-coming book “Derby City Jazz.”
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