Customer Reviews

Jazz Spectacular

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I do not mean to be disresptful of the opinions of others, but I must take exception to a statement a previous reviewer wrote: that Frankie Laine sounds like a country hick trying to sing jazz. Frankie Laine was very singular in his style yes, but a great jazz singer anyway. Laine started off his career making only jazz records. He even wrote a couple of jazz standards. Later he started to record some pop, and even later at the insistence of Mitch Miller he started recording the cowboy songs he is most famous for. Regardless, this records kicks. The arrangements are all top notch, the soloists shine, and Laine's singing is impressive. Don't miss out on this one Buck Clayton fans!

I was new to this album, despite having a keen interest in Clayton's work of this period. What a delight! Frankie Laine's voice is an unusual one compared to most big band or jazz singers of the time - very full-on, very showbiz, not particularly interpretive of the lyrics, but very swinging and fluid - it grows. The music is absolutely top class, with a medium size band of top players (Jo Jones, Sir Charles Thompson, J.J. Johnson, Budd Johnson, Milt Hinton and more) headed by Buck Clayton, who wrote the sharp arrangements. How great it would've been to have heard this in a night club at the time!

This is one of the best Frankie Laine c.d.'s that I have purchased.It would have been so wonderful to have seen this performed in person. The band is fantastic and Frankie does what he does best in every song on this c.d. Buck Clayton, J.J. Johnson and Budd Johnson are spectacular especially when they do their own solos. I would very highly recomend this c.d. to anyone and if you don't think you are a Frankie Laine fan try this one on for size. I know you will love it.

The one word that would best summarize this session is "tight." The musicians "cook," as we say, or used to. Frankie Laine is in fine form. The concept of the album in the old Columbia 30th Street Studio was his and at the time he had the influence to make it happen. Buck Clayton leads a combo of fine jazz musicians in a collection of standards. "You Can Depend on Me," "That Old Feeling," and the other songs have never had fairer treatment. J.J. and Kai drop in and join the group on a couple of the songs. It's an album --a CD--to listen to and shake your head at: can it get any better than this? You won't go wrong on this one, and when you listen to it and love it, don't feel you have to thank me. Just enjoy.

Frankie Laine may not have been a Sinatra, Tony Bennett, or even Dick Haymes, but he was a likeable performer who not only introduced the haunting "We'll Be Together Again" but gave 100% every time out, whether classic American Songbook material or ephemeral period pieces like "Cry of the Wild Goose" and "I Believe." But there's no better way to honor his memory than to re-issue this album, shamefully out of print weeks after his passing.

Even if you're not a Laine fan, he fits in perfectly in the mix of this hi-spirited swing session. Buck Clayton has a distinctive voice on the trumpet practically matching that of Pops, but above all the recording is a gathering of Titanic trombonists, all of whom play their tails off. To begin with, there's the inimitable Dickie Wells, whose only equal among Basie trombonists may have been Al Grey. Then there's Kai Winding and the most influential of them all, J. J. Johnson, both given generous ensemble and solo space. But if that's not enough, add Duke Elllngton's #1 trombonist, Lawrence Brown. Normally, the most genteel and lyrical of trombone voices, Lawrence blows up a storm here. In fact, on the finale, a red-hot "Roses of Picardy," he follows both J.J. and Kai with a solo that scoops everyone, setting up Laine's joyous "out" chorus.

Whether you regard Frankie as the featured singer or just another player, as the star or the catalyst, this is a session that he has a right to be proud of--one, moreover, that deserves a place in most listeners' collections.

The other one being THE STORY OF OLD MAN JAZZ & HIS LOVES (SCORE, 2002), and also featuring the singing of Frankie Laine.

Guess it's clear who my all-time favorite jazz singer is.

*****
JAZZ SPECTACULAR is precisely that: spectacular. Buck Clayton's trumpet is the perfect match for Frankie Laine's trumpet-like voice (often compared to a trumpet, Laine patterned his approach to jazz largely on his idol, Louis Armstrong's horn playing). The individual tracks glide so seamlessly in and out of vocals and instrumentals that the two aspects seem to have melded into one. This is jazz at its finest.

A BEAUTIFUL and swinging album...
Not being very much aware of Laine's opus, I bought it for Buck Clayton and the more I listen, the more I'm thrilled.
This is accessible to people who don't really know jazz, but it's a brilliant jazz album in my opinion.

I have a feeling that Laine fares quite well in this environment, he glides effortlesly on the wings of Clayton's arrangements (left wing) and the entire band swinging like mad (right wing... or vice versa). Ok; my metaphor is clumsy but I guess you get what I mean. The ensemble parts are as hot as the solos.

I can't add too much new in the way of comments on this fine album that hasn't been covered by the great majority of earlier reviewers . I bought this recently on vinyl in great condition and it really is another high quality Columbia mastered and pressed product made in the USA ! . What the liner notes mention that I didn't see in the reviews yet was that Frankie Laine recorded this between his sold out shows at the Latin Quarter that same night . The caliber of the musicians , arrangements and playing is very high and it's great to hear Frankie in this format , his spoken aside to the piano player in the middle of a tune makes you feel like you're right there . Urbie Green sounds great on trombone as usual and the whole album is a treat .

There are quite a number of great Jazz Musicans on this record. And they could do very well without Frankie Laine. In my humble estimation he is no Jazz Singer. I liked him quite well singing "Do not forsake me, oh my Darling" and other Western Songs. But that is only my humble opinion. And of course everybody is intiteled to his own opinion.

Mr. Laine is obviously not a jazz singer, and yet I don't mind his less than expressive interpretations on this 100 percent jazz album.
I attribute this to Buck Clayton's influence - this band could make even Doris Day swing.
The list of musicians is quite impresive (Urbie Green; J. J. Johnson, Kai Winding, Sir Charles Thompson, Dickie Wells, Jo Jones...) but Clayton's solos and arrangements steal the entire show.