Ron Kaplan

Kaplan, a jazz singer with a warm. accessible style, co-produced and co-arranged "High Standards." The disc features 11 straight ahead jazz selections ranging from romantic and melodic songs like "When I Fall in Love," "Dindi" and "Autumn Leaves," to pop-style treatments of "A Night in Tunisia," Summertime" and "My Favorite Things," Latinesque tidbits like "Song for My Father" and the bluesy "Born to Be Blue."

"About three years ago I remembered I had a dream to sing jazz. Now, I'm pursuing the dream," says Kaplan, the son of a jazz trumpet player.

Kaplan's high standards extend to his choice of musicians, as well. The disc features Smith Dobson on piano, Stan Poplin on bass, Steve Robertson on drums, Donny McCaslin Jr. and Paul Contos on sax.

"High Standards" offers a classic taste of romantic jazz standards, enlivened with fresh instrumental arrangements and vivacious musicianship by players with an obvious love for the genre.

The state of jazz in Santa Cruz County? Doing fine, thank you - at least judging by vocalist Ron Kaplan's debut release, "High Standards". The title works two ways. With an all-star band including bassist Stan Poplin, drummer Steve Robertson, pianist Smith Dobson and sax greats Donny McCaslin, Jr. and Paul Contos, Kaplan obviously demands (and gets) much from his sidemen. And filled with time-honored favorites like "Summertime" and "Autumn Leaves." the album covers the work horses of jazz repertoire. The whole thing is full of tasteful arrangements and topnotch performance. Kaplan has a robust voice in the mold of Mel Torme and enough musical sense to step aside and let the band take a few choruses in the middle of songs.

Though standards, the 11 cuts on "High Standards" certainly aren't run-of-the-mill fare. Arrangers Kaplan, Dobson and Robertson put together some smoking reworkings that reveal the thoroughbred grace of tunes often treated in the hands of hacks like mules.

- R.P.