JAZZ REVIEW : Kenny Colman Works His Way in Classic Pop Mode

Kenny Colman sings on weekends at the intimate Monteleone’s supper club in Tarzana. His album, backed by the London Philharmonic, is still unreleased in this country.

Long an occasional local presence, Colman enjoys the admiration of Frank Sinatra, who endorsed his album and has rightly likened him to Tony Bennett, and the few so-called saloon singers now active.

Colman has his own way within the classic pop tradition. He varies the melody more often, showing a musicianly sense of harmony. His jazz-inspired up-tempos such as “Amor” (with a fiercely driving background by drummer Harold Mason) are spirited and compelling, but it is on the ballads that he reaches rare heights. “When Joanna Loved Me,” a superlative wedding of words and music (by Bob Wells and Jack Segal) and Johnny Mandel’s “I Wish I’d Met You” defined his peerless command of the genre.

Though there isn’t room to bring in the London Philharmonic, Colman gets along handily with a rhythm quartet led by Frank Collett at the piano, with solos by John Kurnick on the guitar, and Monty Budwig on bass.

Except for an over-operatic finale on “I Couldn’t Live Without You for a Day,” his entire performance justified the faith shown in him by so many powerful admirers, leaving one to wonder why the big break is still around the corner after too many years.

Monteleone’s, 19337 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, (818) 996-0662.