Roger Cairns©Curt Sletten

Vocalist Roger Cairns has been singing for many years.  He has delivered many shows of the Great American Songbook to several jazz venues in the L.A. region.  This particular evening, August 7th, was the release of his third CD, Dream of Olwen, at Café 322 in Sierra Madre.  Cairns has collaborated with fine pianist Gary Fukushima, for several years.   The rest of the quintet included Tony White – tenor sax, Dave Tranchina – bass and Keita Akutsu – drums.     

Cairns and Fukushima began the evening with three songs from the new CD, all performed as duo: “Where Do You Start” (Johnny Mandel), “I’m in Love Again” (Cy Coleman/Peggy Lee), and the title track, “Dream of Olwen” (Charles Williams). Cairns’s voice is deep, shows passionate integrity and is convincingly warm.   After introductions of the quintet members, they continued with a number by Jack Marshall and late great Peggy Lee, “Things Are Swinging.” Some fine musicianship ensued from everyone’s solos.  White was featured on his tenor in a Latin rendition of “To the Ends of the Earth,” which reminded me of a beautiful version performed by the great George Shearing from earlier years with his Latin Lace Quintet.  These guys played very well together and backed Cairns quite securely.   

Quintet©Glenn A. Mitchell

There are too few male jazz vocalists today.  Roger Cairns is one that deserves much more attention.  See his website:  www.rogercairns.com for activities and his fine CDs.  See Café 322’s website: www.cafe322.com.  Their Italian cuisine is the best!!     

Reprinted with permission from L.A. Jazz Scene, September, 2010 issue.

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