Ben Jones
Temptation
Feinstein’s at the Nikko, San Francisco, CA, October 19, 2024
Reviewed by Steve Murray
Photo: Damian Marhefka
Ben Jones—award-winning singer, comedian, storyteller, and actor—returned to the intimate Feinstein’s at the Nikko for a highly successful two-run engagement in which he displayed his considerable talents. If you haven’t seen Ben Jones, make it a must. He has that unique skill that makes a great entertainer; he’s so engaging and interesting that you can’t wait for the next moment. This show, titled Temptation, exhibited that proficiency brilliantly.
Opening with a query, Jones asked “What do you want?” He meant out of life, and his set contained an eclectic selection of tunes that explored variations on that theme. Our obsession with cell phones was connected to Jay Hawkins and Herb Slotkin’s “I Put a Spell on You.” Another tempting distraction was represented in “Me and Mrs. Jones,” in which two people cheated on their significant others. Jones’ banter was witty and charming; he riffed on the fact that his wife Julie Scelzo didn’t take his name, so the song was really about him and his mother! Oedipus and Freud came up in a very funny talking bit.
Jones has been successfully collaborating with arranger/musical director Ron Abel, as evidenced in Abel’s stunning arrangement of Cole Porter’s “It’s All Right with Me.” Jones’ incisive tenor covered a number of genres including pop, rock, Broadway, and R&B. His voice was soulful on “Tennessee Whiskey” (Dean Dillon/Linda Hargrove), and powerful on Andrew Lippa’s “What Is It About Her? from The Wild Party.
“What Do I Need with Love” (Jeanine Tesori/Dick Scanlan) from Thoroughly Modern Millie was a heartfelt tribute to the late Gavin Creel, and a stark cover of Jason Robert Brown’s “Proof” from the new musical The Connector displayed Jones’ serious vocal talent. He is no stranger to musical theater, having performed principal roles in L’enfant et les sortilèges (La Théière, Le Petit Vieillard, La Rainette), Boris Godunov (Missail), Candide (Governor, Vanderdendur), Guys and Dolls (Sky), Follies (Buddy), Show Boat (Ravenal), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Jimmy), Cats (Munkustrap/Quaxo), Sweeney Todd (Tobias), The Last Five Years (Jamie), and Chicago (Mary Sunshine).
His smart talking points tied the show together brilliantly and drew the audience into the theme of our various tempting distractions. He said, “It takes work to keep the dream alive.” One of his dreams was about finding love, and Alan Menken and Glenn Slater’s “One of the Great Ones” from A Bronx Tale was a show highlight. Overall, Temptation was a well-crafted, excellently performed show that highlighted Jones’ many talents and added to his already stellar résumé.
