Here’s a guy that knocks me out every time he puts out an album. John Dokes has the classic honey’d soul voice, relaxed and suave-why isn’t he a late night deejay?
Here’s he’s backed by George Gee’s orchestra, and his relaxed under an umbrella on “Our Day Will Come” while suavely shuffling out the bebop classic “Moanin’”. And he doesn’t just rework “standard” standards-he throws in some hip jazz classics as well. He works with ease through the obstacle course of the tricky drum pulse of Freddie Hubbard’s “Red Clay” and struts out “Everything Must Change”. A peppy “Almost Like Being In Love” and Latinized “Suddenly” go down easy like a cold frappe’. Does this guy ever sweat? Cucumber cool.