Cover songs are often a challenge to tackle and still emerge with a product that stands on its own, with its own musical merit and signature, while paying enough respect for the original artists, and Jonny & the Jazzuits seem to have a living out of nailing this formula, as apparent in their latest cover single of Johnny Nash’s eternally loved I Can See Clearly Now.
Based in the town of Hoofddorp in the Netherlands, Jonny & the Jazzuits have already been bringing joy to thousands, as they toured their home country, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland, bringing their lighthearted, musical, and entertaining jazzy spin on pop epics and jazz standards to jazz festivals, bars, churches, and weddings.
Their take on the legendary ‘I Can See Clearly Now’ manages to retain the original cut’s light breeziness, while imbuing it with their big band energy, particularly with the flamboyant piano performance, a driving drum part, a warm and musical saxophone solo, followed by a grooving piano one, accompanying Jonny Boston’s charismatic vocal presence. The roomy and concise-sounding production manages to give this recording an earthy, organic feel, that surely fits the wholesome aesthetic of the group, and also the optimistic vibes of the original song.
Jonny & the Jazzuits’ take on I Can See Clearly Now is a respectful nod to a timeless classic that exudes elegance from the band’s musical and masterful additions that manage to spice up the original song and bring a fresh take on it to the table, making it definitely worth a checkout.