Customer Reviews

The Frank Sinatra Collection

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of my favorite CDs in the whole world. I've played it a lot (in my car, in the waiting room at work, in the slot in the computer while I'm doing the billing, in the bedroom to wake up to) (and stuff). I just never get tired of it. All the classic Sinatra tunes, great insrumental presentation.

I've been listening to Beegie for over 30 years since she played for the WSM TV noon show back in the 60's. She accompanied my father, Bob Johnstone, on that show. He sang with Paul Whiteman and Shep Fields back in the 40's, Owen Bradley's dance band in Nashville and many more and he thought Beegie was one of the best pianists with whom he'd ever had the pleasure to work. He loved her style, her charm and her sincerity in her music. Her talents shine in this album. She has the smooth, easy sound that I could listen to for hours. You can't go wrong with any of her albums, but this one, along with her Nat King Cole cd are splendid additions to any jazz fan's collection!

I stumbled on to Beegie by accident, but it has been a great discovery. This cd shows her great interpolation of the music she plays. She has a real presence for her songs. The only regret i have is that there is not more of her cds available. The only reason for not giving her a higher rating on this cd is because, like so many jazz musicians they apear to wonder away from the melody while improvising. In Beegies' case on several of her play downs she does her wondering. Out of the 12 tracks listed I only liked 9.

Recommendation: I would like to recommend this cd.

If you haven't discovered Beegie Adair yet, fasten your seat belt cause here we go with ~ "The Frank Sinatra Collection", a musical tribute for Ole Blue Eyes with twelve ring-a-ding tunes ~ every selection is a key song from The Chairman of the Board's career. There is a beauty in jazz and Beegie has her pulse on the genre, listen as her creativity abounds ~ talent blends improvisation and interpretation mixed with wonderful arrangements.

Adair with her trio, Roger Spencer (bass) and Chris Brown (drums) are impeccable musicians, renditions are great ~ "I'VE GOT THE WORLD ON A STRING" (Harold Arlen), "I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN" (Cole Porter), "YOUNG AT HEART" (Leigh/Richards), "NIGHT AND DAY" (Cole Porter), "STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT" (Kaempfert/Snyder/Singleton), "ALL THE WAY" (Cahn/Van Heusen), "CHICAGO THAT TODDLING TOWN" (Fred Fisher), "NANCY" (Phil Silvers/Jimmy Van Heusen), "WITCHCRAFT" (Cy Coleman/Carolyn Leigh), "IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS OF THE MORNING" (David A. Mann/Bob Hilliard), "I GET A KICK OUT OF YOU" (Cole Porter) and "ONE FOR MY BABY" (Harold Arlen) ~ superb musicianship by the trio, and as always Beegie's light touch on the keys is why you purchased the album in the first place.

Spring Hill Records shares with the listener, sensitivity to the melody with excellent arrangements serving up a delectable array of tunes. The Sinatra collection is a must have for any Jazz fan, or I might add pianomania by Miss Beegie Adair...gotta love it!

Total Time: 43:40 on 12 Tracks ~ Spring Hill 5056 ~ (4/15/1997)

I heard this playing in a shop in Michigan and knew I had to have it! It is absolutely a must have both for Sinatra fans and jazz lovers.

Think of sophisticated songs, sung by that master of sophisticated songs, Frank Sinatra, such as ..Young at Heart; All the Way; In the Wee Small Hours and nine others of that ilk, played to perfection by that queen of the keyboard, Beegie Adair, and you have a pretty good idea of the contents of this CD. Her jazzy style particularly suits these Sinatra classics and I'm certain that he would have loved them...smooth and sassy. This is a fabulous CD that all lovers of good jazz should have and enjoy.

I love Beegie Adair's style and am usually happy with the musical arrangements, but this album disappointed me. I expected more energy and pazazz.

This album was a delightful surprise. Toe-tapping, wonderful arrangements done by a terrific trio. Will be enjoyed by anyone who loves standards delivered with spirit. Don't miss it!

First off I said some pretty lame things on my last review of this cd. I said Beegie wonders away from the melody, like a jazz pianist. that is exactly what she is, a jazz pianist, and I now understand that. You see I never understood the art and creativity and beauty in jazz, and now those 3 tracks that I didn't like because she wonders away from the melody are my FAVORITES, I wish she'd do it more often and take more chances, as Betty Carter would say "Who cares about the melody", I think that's also something Anita O'Day would say.

This cd is exellent all the way thru, ESPECIALLY where Beegie improvises and strays from the melody, that's when the excitment occurs. Any pianist can play it straight, but Beegie has creativity and swings hard on thsi set. Also worth mentioning is, that Beegie recorded this before Sinatra passed on, not like everyone else who suddenly recorded Sinatra tributes to capitalize on his death. Sinatra was still around to appreciate the compliment paid to him by Beegie.

Now I have come to love jazz and improvisation thanks to Beegie I can now enjoy, Coltrane, Dave McKenna, Eric Dolphy, now I don't want to hear melody, now I want improv...

Can I recoemend this cd:
The answer is yes, and please also buy any cd's by the great jazz singer Wesla Whitfield too!

If you like a piano trio, this is great.

I love it.