John Eaton

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, Rovi