Julius Veal prefers to play alone; partly because of the issues that are always present in bands, and partly because, solo, his exuberance knows no bounds.

“Don’t get me wrong, I like playing with others,” he says, “but when you’re in a band, you’ve always got people with different goals, different motivations; you’re always trying to maintain the focus amid the distractions. If you happen to meet someone going down the same track, though, hooking up can be beautiful.”

Veal, who calls himself the Rhythm Doctor (Dr. J.), brings dignity and honor to lounge music; he exhalts it with his attitude.

His voice has character and texture and accuracy through a wide range. He uses a rhythm box (only) to back up his acoustic/electric guitar — “I always use the acoustic guitar,” he explains, “in case the power goes out I can keep playing” — creating a full sound with strums and picks.

He plays a diverse repertoire of jazz, pop, rock and others with a distinctly upbeat style, and his enthusiasm is catchy. Performing for a small dinner crowd spread out across a large dining room and a few people at the bar, Veal puts as much energy into his show as he would if a screaming crowd was pressing against the stage. “I’m a professional entertainer,” he says, simply.

Born and raised in Youngstown, Veal bought a guitar to join a band when he was 12, then taught himself to play hanging around with local music legends like Hump Jones. He did shows as an adjunct to his service in the Air Force, spent five years performing at various venues in the Dominican Republic, and then two years in Toronto, Canada, before coming home about a year ago.

Now he is a full time musician, visual and performance artist, and a philosopher of depth, clarity and enthusiasm. (Click to his web site from his JamBrain profile page to read his extensive writings.)

Julius Veal has a regular Tuesday gig at the Rosetta Stone, downtown, and if going there for dinner or cocktails isn’t lure enough, a dose of the Doctor’s treatment can fix what ails you.