REVIEW: RJ & The Assignment’s “Deceiving Eyes”

Because of the photo effect on the cover, I assumed at first that Deceiving Eyes by RJ & The Assignment was going to be some jazz along the lines of the Buddy Miles Express’ Expressway To Your Skull. It is not, so my eyes were deceiving me. Instead, this is some well executed jazz by a piano player who simply goes by the name of RJ, and along with The Assignment, play the kind of jazz that is not deceiving to the years.

The way this guy plays sounds like he either grew up with great musicians in his family, is a close listener to jazz records, or was raised in an environment where music is key. Maybe it’s all three, but this is the kind of album that would measure up with some of the great jazz pianists. Name them: Herbie Hancock, George Shearing, Dave Brubeck, McCoy Tyner, Robert Glasper, and he definitely could play alongside them with ease. When you listen to him in tracks like “Someday My Prince Will Come”, “Dolphin Dance”, or “Bolivia”, this is someone who understands the instrument, spacing, and just how to decorate the song at the right times. While suicide is not a topic you’ll generally hear in a jazz setting, when he and The Assignment perform “Suicide Is Painless” (a/k/a/ the theme to M*A*S*H, death and grief never sounded so festive. I know that might be a harsh thing to say, but it seemed to be not unlike how some in New Orleans have funeral processions, where death will lead to the celebration of life. The way RJ and the guys get into a jive to where it makes you want to jump up and dance, you tend to want to forget what this song is about. Or maybe the use of it is a way of saying that in times of struggle and strife, you have to dance and smile in order to get to the next steps in life.

Also surprising is yet another cover version of Pharrell Williams’ “Frontin’”. One of the known first covers was by Jamie Cullum, and while the song has faded away from the hip-hop and R&B limelight for a bit, there seems to be a fascination with this track that for me is surprising, and I’m sure Pharrell would agree with that. It is nice to hear a jazz album with music that was relased in the last 10 years, and this is a welcome addition to jazz’s songbook.

The rest of the album is well done, and for fans of piano jazz or anyone who loves jazz with that kind of smokiness that can stir up a wide range of emotions, thoughts, and memories. Eyes should not be deceived, and if you are a faithful fan of jazz, your ears will not.