Dick Wells and musicians offer fresh take on standards

Warwick - Dick Wells and the Philip Jones Quintet made their second appearance Jan. 25 at the Pané Restaurant at the Warwick Valley Winery. Wells, who always manages to arrive at each performance with a fresh repertoire, opened with Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies.” He then did a tribute to writer Johnny Mercer with “That Old Black Magic,” a song Wells sang with the Harry James Band in Las Vegas. In a tribute to Sammy Davis Jr., whom Wells worked with at Harrah’s Club in Lake Tahoe, he sang “Bye Bye Blackbird,” accompanied only with drummer Rick Fassone. Wells finished with “Let Me Try Again” and “Here’s To the Band.” Wells, professional entertainer and radio/TV host, also broadcasts from Warwick/Florida Radio WTBQ (1110 AM) Monday through Friday as co-host of the Q-11 morning news team. And he has a Saturday morning musical program, also at WTBQ. After their performance, Wells and the Quintet received a standing ovation. They plan to return to the Pane Restaurant on April 26.