JAZZ REVIEW : Jackie & Roy Still Sparkle

Hearing Jackie Cain and Roy Kral is a bit like traveling through a time warp. Their opening set at Catalina Bar & Grill Thursday night was filled with the same buoyantly swinging, brightly spirited vocal jazz that has been the duo’s stock in trade for more than 40 years. Cain’s blond tresses have turned to silver, and Kral has added a few more worry lines, but the blend of their voices--one of the most distinctive sounds in jazz--has lost none of its sparkle. What made this evening different was a marked increase in Cain’s ballad singing, and an unusually varied program of unfamiliar material. The heart of the set was a collection of Alec Wilder songs. Familiar items like “It’s So Peaceful in the Country” and “I’ll Be Around” were included, of course, but Jackie & Roy also dug deeply into the more obscure depths of the Wilder ouevre.

Kral’s richly harmonic piano playing, aided by the able assistance of bassist Seward McKay and drummer Curt Moore, provided a sturdy foundation for the ballads. Cain made the most of the support, especially on a lush version of “You’re My Thrill” and a serene interpretation of a “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most.”