Patrick Arena is just a "Barefoot Boy" enjoying his joy.

Well, not really.

But "Barefoot Boy," the title of a song featured on his latest recording, "Night and Day," is a swinging tune most people can identify with.

"I got no need for no toy," he sings to swinging accompaniment. "I'm just a barefoot boy inclined to dance and roll up my pants."

"That song is my theme song in a way," said Arena from his home in Washington, Pa. "It's the first song I ever wrote. I play it at my gigs and people know it."

"Barefoot Boy" was written more than 20 years ago. Arena previously recorded it on "Captured Alive," but felt it was time to do a studio version.

"Usually, it's the other way around," he said with a huge chuckle. "Usually, you record a studio version before you do a live one."

"Night and Day," produced by guitarist Mark Lucas, provides an exciting mix of originals and standards. Featuring pianist Skip Peck, drummer Alex Peck and bassist Tony DePaolis, Arena seamlessly juxtaposed "Night and Day," a song written by Cole Porter, with "Temptation," a tune he dedicates to flamboyant torch singer Phat Man Dee.

Except for the title track, most of the songs have been time-tested.

"I've performed all of the songs many times over the years," he continued. "But 'Night and Day' was not a song I had ever performed. I knew it and I suppose I had sung it in the showers."

Unlike many traditional approaches to the song, Arena adds an a cappella introduction before being accompanied by Lucas' tender guitar lines.

Arena grew up in Washington listening to the music of Ella Fitzgerald, Glenn Miller, Stan Kenton and others. "I heard all these great people early on and that's what I love," he said.

As a kid, he was a tap dancer in a troupe that regularly performed in Atlantic City. "We danced there every summer and eventually I became a featured dancer," recalled Arena.

He continued to perform in the troupe while singing in a wedding band.

"We played society music mostly," he said. "It was society and country music. It was a job and I was working."

After completing high school, he studied classical voice for three years at Duquesne University. Afterward, he moved to New York to pursue a career in musical theater. Soon, he realized that culture wasn't for him.

"I just didn't like the theater and the theater people," he said. "I also didn't like being at auditions where there were 300 people in line. I made the choice to just sing and study more."

Arena studied privately with Abbey Lincoln and Dakota Staton and performed a great deal with pianist Fred Hersch.

"It was really great working with Fred because he's such a great accompanist," recalled Arena.

During this time, Arena also began writing songs. In 1999, he made his debut recording with pianist Andy Monroe on "Night Cap." A year later, he moved back to Washington to take care of his ailing father. He continued to teach and perform in the Pittsburgh area and in 2004, recorded "Captured Alive."

Now, he's focusing on "Night and Day," a recording that already has his fans' attention. It's a wonderful document from an artist who is both personable and expressive.