JACK WOOD, For Every Man There's A Woman

While much beloved SoCal vintage swing and timeless balladry maven Jack Wood devoted his last two albums Movie Magic and The Gal That Got Away to introducing his friend, premier Australian jazz stylist, Nichaud Fitzgibbon, to American audiences, he’s singing, swinging, styling and dreamily crooning with host of other dazzling, well-heed musicians on his latest eclectic set of standards, For Every Man There’s a Woman.

On the first three gems, the sensual title track, a brisk stroll through “Our Day Will Come” and the subtly romantic “Falling in Love with Love,” he pairs his intuitive soulfulness with the tasteful buoyancy of the Lenora Raphael Trio and guitar great Doug MacDonald, who adds his customary head and seat spinning extended solo action. From there, the album expands in subtle ways, bringing in varied arrangements that add sometimes vibrant, often low key harmonic hues without ever overwhelming the vocal narrative.

Standards like “The More I See You,” “Ruby” and “I Only Have Eyes for You” (a cheerful mid-tempo twist featuring a sparkling Rob Mullins piano solo) handled with tenderness and hfelt eartclarity, avoiding unnecessary embellishment in favor of phrasing that honors the emotional core of each tune. Wood has a knack for letting a lyric breathe, allowing familiar material to feel quietly renewed rather than reworked.

What ultimately gives the album its appeal is its sense of balance—between that trademark Jack Wood swing and sentiment, polish and ease. It’s a reminder that when these songs are delivered with sincerity, taste and just the right touch of personality, they don’t need updating—they simply need to be sung from the heart.