Jazz Alive in Fairfield

Jazz is alive and well in Fairfield, where about 170 turned out Sunday afternoon at the Fairfield Community Arts Center for a "Jazz Alive" concert starring Mary Ellen Tanner and Larry Kinley, pictured. Talk about style -- younger singers could take a lesson from these two legends, whose credits include the Bob Braun Show, Liberace, Bob Hope and Paul Williams (Mary Ellen), Merv Griffin, Vivian Della Chiesa and Tony Bennett (Larry) and the Nick Clooney Show (both).

It helped that their back-up trio was world-class, too: Phil DeGreg on piano, Lou Lausche on bass (dressed like he's just come from his law office in pin-stripe suit), and the incomparable "Baron" John Von Ohlen, onetime drummer for Stan Kenton and Rosemary Clooney (Von Ohlen is pictured here on the piano bench).

Their two sets traveled through a warm and wonderful American songbook, including Jerome Kern, the Gershwins, Rodgers & Hart and Cole Porter.

Kinley, a velvet-toned baritone who could reach down to a deep, resonant bass, chose his favorite songs from "music that will last forever." There was "Tenderly," beautifully phrased, while DeGreg worked his magic on the piano, a snappy "Fly Me to the Moon" and an upbeat "They'll never be Another You," with some pretty amazing scat.

Later, he slowed the tempo to a rhumba in "Speak Low," with Latin-flavored percussion courtesy of Von Ohlen. The crowd sighed out loud when he sang a beautifully controlled "Misty," prefacing it with "When I heard Erroll play it and Johnny Mathis sing it, I said that's the song for me." His best moment came when he sang the blues, specifically Joe Williams' "Every Day I Have the Blues," that swung to a hard beat on drums, a slapping bass and more than a little tremolo in the piano.

Tanner, all glammed up with upswept platinum hair and silver sequins, was charismatic, warm and real as she traveled through tunes like "Night and Day" and a bluesy "Don't Get Around Much Anymore." She was a natural in Jobim's "Meditation" (In My Loneliness), communicating each word with genuine feeling. There was also Hoagy Carmichael's "The Nearness of You," intimately performed with great style and warmth.

And I've got to get the words to her Cincinnati verse for "The Lady is a Tramp." If you know them, post it here!

The show benefited "Jazz Alive," a nonprofit educational organization meant to promote jazz.

Other jazz news:

1. Don't miss Phil DeGreg's CD unveiling party, 8 p.m. Thursday at the Blue Wisp.

2. The Blue Wisp will present a special tribute to jazz bassist Bob Bodley, 8 p.m. April 26 at the Wisp, starring local jazz luminaries as well as the internationally celebrated (and Cincinnati native) pianist Fred Hersch, New York trumpeter Barry Ries and Louisville vibraphonist Dick Sisto.

Bob, weekend house bassist at the Blue Wisp for 17 years, died in December. The tribute (suggested donation of $10) will help his widow, Cynthia, pay off many outstanding medical bills. Mail-in donations may be sent to Cynthia Bodley, care of the Blue Wisp Jazz Club, 318 E. Eighth Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202.