Customer Reviews

A Jazz Portrait of Frank Sinatra (Dig)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a huge fan of Oscar Peterson, but this is really a very average Peterson album. Don't get me wrong the trio are fine and the playing is as good as you would expect. The problem is the lack of variation. Most of the tunes are played mid-tempo and Oscar never really stretches himself. The only semi-uptempo number is "It happened in Monterey".

Out of 12 tracks only 5 are longer than 3 minutes and none are longer than 4. Indeed one is less than 2 minutes. So I'm afriad this means you get a theme statement short solo and theme again on nearly all tracks.

There is nothing wrong this album, but there are literally dozens of better Oscar Peterson albums to get first.

I've been listening to some of the many memorable Sinatra CDs from my collection since Sunday night, and this CD is one of them. This is my very own special way of honoring the legendary Chairman of the Board's 91st birth anniversary today, December 12, 2006.

"For years I have been an ardent admirer of Frank Sinatra. I've been thrilled by his singing and I've respected the taste that goes with his singing. As a musician I've further admired his choice of tunes and as a fan I've recognized that certain tunes are forever, at least in my mind, inextricably linked with Sinatra, both by usage and interpretation and by that special magic that is his alone. This album is not only a tribute to Frank Sinatra, but also my emotional interpretation of the feelings I get when I hear him. I have tried, therefore, to paint as well as I can a portrait, told in my personal jazz terms, of Frank Sinatra." ~ Oscar Peterson ~

I'm in accord with Oscar Peterson's sentiments about Frank Sinatra and his music especially coming from a jazz icon himself who has made a very impressive mark in the history of jazz.

This album, which was recorded in Paris on May 18, 1959, is worthy to any jazz aficionado and Oscar Peterson and Frank Sinatra enthusiasts. It's one of the best Sinatra tributes ever recorded and one of the greatest piano jazz albums of all-time. Yes, this recording is definitely old - recorded 47 years ago, but the sound quality is outstanding. Thanks to the marvel of today's sound engineering and mastering. Oscar Peterson, a legendary pianist and one of the most respected names in the jazz world, did a sublimely exceptional job in "painting a jazz portrait" of another musical legend and Entertainer of the Century, Frank Sinatra.

The master of the ivories, together with his long-time partners, Ray Brown on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums play some of the signature tunes made popular by Sinatra most notably "You Make Me Feel So Young," "Come Dance With Me," "It Happened In Monterey," "Just In Time" and "I Get A Kick Out Of You."

You'll totally enjoy listening to a dozen of terrific tunes as he tickles the ivories and gives you that remarkably familiar jazz piano and I call it "Distinctively Peterson Sound" - that effortless and powerful piano playing. Each interpretation is so enjoyable to listen to. Oscar Peterson turns these tunes into ear-catching melodies with his spontaneity and artistry in piano playing.

With Oscar Peterson on the ivories, there's never a dull moment. Although these tunes were recorded countless times, he made each melody so special with its respective rhythms that are so infectious and highly-spirited.

This is one great CD jazz fans wouldn't want to miss. Listen now and enjoy!

This classic Sinatra tribute has been remastered beautifully to properly showcase this inimitable trio of Peterson, Brown, and Thigpen. It's only too bad they didn't see fit to add some of the many other Sinatra tunes recorded at this same session as the playing time is very short. While these tunes only last 2-3 minutes each, the fact Peterson edited himself to basically just the melodies in no way detracts from the wonderful group feel. These classic songs associated with Sinatra are a wonderful complement to the originals. Essential.

This trio is so versatile , no wonder they are seen as a classic unit .

It helps if you know the lyrics to all these songs , as that helps you to enjoy it even more . There is no wasted time on the album - it is brief , but all the arrangements are perfect .

The infectious and positive spirit of the trio comes across undiluted on the album .

Great for a party , in the car or relaxing at home .

Listening to it is one of my favourite ways to pass the time .

The enraptured genius of Peterson shone once more, with this special dedication to the most emblematic American singer of the last Century. So just imagine a colossus playing some of the radiant music of a giant singer. The result cannot be more flattering and flattening too.

Don' t miss it this album under no pretext.

Cruising around for any Oscar Peterson I didn't yet have and found this - clicked on the first "sample" and was just amazed - the piano replaces the vocal, but you can still hear the words - or, at least, I could!

Very good album! I can't believe I never saw it before! But I'm glad I have it now!

I was particularly impressed with the clarity of the recording on this issue. The piano and bass are clean and clear. I suppose the drums are no less clear, but I found them to be rather too low in the mix. Unless you goose the volume, the drums are merely a quiet rustle in the background. This is a fault, or at least I thought it was a flaw, either in the microphone placement, mixing, or mastering stage.

Frankly, I like shorter jazz tracks, because too often when musicians stretch out too much, it becomes tedious. Perhaps that identifies me as only a dabbler in jazz. Well no, but I am very critical of endless, mindless blowing of frenetic cascades of notes that ultimately do not move my soul. I prefer the more restrained approach of an Ahmad Jamal Trio, for example.

No chance of that happening here. As another reviewer notes, generally there is an intro (some of the intros are very classy and beautiful), the theme, a few variations, and theme again. This is music to be savored and enjoyed, not analyzed, not something you'll have to strain your musical sensibilities to grasp. Oscar keeps his speed-demon tendencies in check. The lyrical and swinging characteristics of Frank's signature songs are emphasized on this outing.

In conclusion, this is a fine album. Not quite the caliber of Night Train, but very solid. Wouldn't it have been great if Oscar had made an album like this with the Chairman of the Board himself?

I'm a big Sinatra Fan and a big Oscar Peterson fan....so this was a sure pick for my collection. Although I was not thrilled with some of the arrangements, on the whole it was fairly enjoyable.

In a response to SJ Buck's excellent review, I stated that the small amount of music on this CD makes buying it at full price pointless, especially when two-fer compilations of classic albums is becoming a normal practice. No sooner did I post my review that I did a search on Amazon and discovered a 2009 release of this album includes 13 additional tracks of the Peterson Trio performing songs associated with Sinatra. 25 tracks in all. THAT'S the CD to get, I'd say, and the CD I'm going to order. Portrait of Frank Sinatra

if you are a fan of Oscar Peterson this belongs in your collection.