Jackie & Roy: The Beautiful Sea: Songs of Sun, Sand and Sea

There is a kind of insistent joy to this themed collection of performances of Jackie Cain and Roy Kral, who have been performing together for more than 50 years. All the material emphasizes the seaside, from the title tune to Herbie Hancock’s “Dolphin Dance”: there is plenty of surf, pounding or thundering, and idyllic dolphins, sun-drenched boats and moonlit beaches -even one “shining Mylar(tm)” ribbon of waves (!)-and nary a pirate on the horizon. Throw in some surfside sound effects, and the whole package leaves a slightly saccharine aftertaste. Musically, this adventure in paradise is not particularly adventurous: Jackie and Roy generally double the melody, branching occasionally into safe harmony: the sound is suffused with verve, if not invention. Kral’s adept piano is complemented by Dave Samuels on vibes and marimba, Paul Meyers on guitar, Dave Johnson on bass, Terry Clarke on drums, and Guillermo Acevedo on percussion, with accompanying pairs of violins and cellos.

Originally Published May 1, 1999