Celebrating Sinatra

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Growing up in an Italian-American household in Cleveland during the 1950s and '60s, Joe Lovano breathed in Frank Sinatra's music as unthinkingly as he breathed in the air. Young Joe's dad Tony was a weekend saxophonist who specialized in standards, and Aunt Rose knew the lyric to every Sinatra record ever made. So it was only natural that Joe grew up to be a tenor saxophonist himself and make an album called Celebrating Sinatra.

It's not what you might think, however. This is no nostalgic retread of a bygone era. This is an ambitious project by one of the most gifted jazz musicians of the '90s, an innovator who doesn't revive Sinatra's tunes so much as he reinvents them. The only vocals on the album come from Lovano's wife, Judi Silvano, who accompanies the saxophone rather than the other way around. Her ethereal soprano harmonies and elastic scat improvisations play much the same role in the arrangements that Ted Nash's clarinet and Dick Oatts's flute do. Instead, the lead voice is Lovano's sax, which produces a sound so brawny and yet warm that it achieves the same blend of bravado and sensitivity that Sinatra's vocals once did. Rather than merely follow Ol' Blue Eyes, though, Lovano carves whole new trails through chord changes offered up by the likes of Harold Arlen, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, and Sinatra himself. The saxophonist always states the original melody in the first chorus, but he's quick to reveal how many ways the theme can be bent and twisted without losing its emotional core.

Keeping the rhythmic swing crisp and clean is the all-star rhythm section of pianist Kenny Werner, drummer Al Foster, and bassist George Mraz. Playing the Nelson Riddle role of arranger and/or conductor on eight of the 13 tunes is Manny Albam, who favors subtle art-music settings rather than slam-bang rave-ups. These emotionally suggestive settings seem to bring out the best in Lovano, who plays each phrase as if it carried a slightly different message. When he stretches out the notes on George Gershwin's "Someone to Watch Over Me" with a perfect intimation of desire and need, he recalls the lyrics so effectively that there's no need for anyone to articulate them. --Geoffrey Himes

From Jazziz
Tenor great Joe Lovano has had a lot of experience working his saxophone into a variety of orchestral settings - with leaders ranging from Woody Herman to Carla Bley to Vince Mendoza. But his work on Gunther Schuller's acclaimed Rush Hour album was the spark that ignited his interest in doing further strings projects. 1997's Celebrating Sinatra interprets the music made popular by one of the greatest singers of our time - and a Lovano-family favorite. Lovano particularly wanted Manny Albam to... read more

Celebrating Sinatra

Celebrating Sinatra, Music, Joe Lovano, Jazz, Jazz Music, Pop, Post-Bop
Virgin Gay Pride 2005: Celebrating Diversity Through Music
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Virgin Gay Pride 2005: Celebrating Diversity Through Music
    Various Artists , Moby , Jem , Fantasia , Kelly Clarkson , Nancy Sinatra , Yerba Buena , and Kelly Osbourne
    Manufacturer: Sony/BMG
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD
    ASIN: B000N7FR44

    Product Description

    A sampler from a range of artists. One remix not from album. Tracks included are: Moby - Very Kelly Clarkson - Behind These Hazel Eyes Jem - 24 Fantasia - It's All Good (The Scumfrog Mixshow) Kelly Osbourne - Suburbia Nancy Sinatra - Burnin' Down the Spark Altar Boyz - Rhythm in Me Yerba Buena - Sugar Daddy Nouvelle Vague - Just Can't Get Enough Carla Bruni - Quelqu'un M'a Dit
    Celebrating Sinatra
    Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    • Sublime transformation
    • Lovano is Lovano
    • Okay---but no classic
    • I LOVE this CD. Maybe it's not for everyone's taste, but I l
    • Hello? Are There Sinatra Tunes In There????
    		 Celebrating Sinatra
    Joe Lovano
    Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    Bebop GeneralBebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
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    Traditional Vocal PopTraditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
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    Traditional & Vocal PopTraditional & Vocal Pop | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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    ASIN: B000005H3G
    Release Date: 1997-01-14

    Tracks:

    1. I'll Never Smile Again
    2. Chicago
    3. I'm A Fool To Want You
    4. Imagination
    5. I've Got The World On A String
    6. All The Way
    7. South Of The Border
    8. In Other Words
    9. I've Got You Under My Skin
    10. This Love Of Mine
    11. Someone To Watch Over Me
    12. One For My Baby
    13. The Song Is You

    Amazon.com

    Growing up in an Italian-American household in Cleveland during the 1950s and '60s, Joe Lovano breathed in Frank Sinatra's music as unthinkingly as he breathed in the air. Young Joe's dad Tony was a weekend saxophonist who specialized in standards, and Aunt Rose knew the lyric to every Sinatra record ever made. So it was only natural that Joe grew up to be a tenor saxophonist himself and make an album called Celebrating Sinatra.

    It's not what you might think, however. This is no nostalgic retread of a bygone era. This is an ambitious project by one of the most gifted jazz musicians of the '90s, an innovator who doesn't revive Sinatra's tunes so much as he reinvents them. The only vocals on the album come from Lovano's wife, Judi Silvano, who accompanies the saxophone rather than the other way around. Her ethereal soprano harmonies and elastic scat improvisations play much the same role in the arrangements that Ted Nash's clarinet and Dick Oatts's flute do. Instead, the lead voice is Lovano's sax, which produces a sound so brawny and yet warm that it achieves the same blend of bravado and sensitivity that Sinatra's vocals once did. Rather than merely follow Ol' Blue Eyes, though, Lovano carves whole new trails through chord changes offered up by the likes of Harold Arlen, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, and Sinatra himself. The saxophonist always states the original melody in the first chorus, but he's quick to reveal how many ways the theme can be bent and twisted without losing its emotional core.

    Keeping the rhythmic swing crisp and clean is the all-star rhythm section of pianist Kenny Werner, drummer Al Foster, and bassist George Mraz. Playing the Nelson Riddle role of arranger and/or conductor on eight of the 13 tunes is Manny Albam, who favors subtle art-music settings rather than slam-bang rave-ups. These emotionally suggestive settings seem to bring out the best in Lovano, who plays each phrase as if it carried a slightly different message. When he stretches out the notes on George Gershwin's "Someone to Watch Over Me" with a perfect intimation of desire and need, he recalls the lyrics so effectively that there's no need for anyone to articulate them. --Geoffrey Himes

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Sublime transformation.......2002-04-16

    Released when Sinatra tributes were a big fad, a few years before the chairman of the board expired, Lovano's heartfelt paean to one of the greatest singers is an art-music triumph. It didn't sell very well when new, probably because the Sinatra market was saturated with more accessible product and word of mouth pegged this off-beat gem as not quite what some may have expected. No one should mistake this as yet another schmaltzy reworking of Sinatra standards. Instead, it's an artistic transformation by a top rank improviser of songs that Sinatra made famous. But Lovano takes them all a step beyond. Aided by low-key string arrangements by Manny Albam, Lovano soars lightly over the usual Sinatra repertoire. He creates moods, paints abstract sound pictures and makes jazz statements like the master saxophonist he's become over the past decade since signing with Blue Note. If you see this used, pick it up.

    5 out of 5 stars Lovano is Lovano.......2000-07-15

    This player, one of today's most brilliant jazz improvisers, does not make one record like the other. And still, he manages to make them all "right". If you are looking at this record because of the "Celebrating Sinatra" title, this music might surprise or provoke you. This is Lovano and his band playing, so don't expect them to play the music without making it personal. I love this, and I think most Lovano fans will. The sound is great, as one would expect, and the subtle arrangements are heart-pleasing. This is modern and classic, all at the same time. Perhaps not quite the thing for those swooner/crooner/jazz conservativists, though?

    3 out of 5 stars Okay---but no classic.......2000-03-06

    Not so much a celebration of the chairman's music, more an honest but failed attempt at cashing in on a fad. The vocalizing on some of the numbers is superflous, and the orchestrations are somewhat of a hodge-podge. As always, Lovano's playing shines, but this is not the Lovano album to begin with. This is like trying to listen to Miles Davis of Doo-Bop or Tutu--the backgrounds of those albums are horrible too. Better to check out Landmarks or Trio Fascination instead if you are a novice

    5 out of 5 stars I LOVE this CD. Maybe it's not for everyone's taste, but I l.......1999-10-15

    This is a wonderful CD!! I was really surprised that some people thought this was poor.... but that's what makes the world go round!!!!

    1 out of 5 stars Hello? Are There Sinatra Tunes In There????.......1999-01-17

    I purchased this album HOPING this would be a mellow,musical tribute to the art and music of the world's greatest vocalist. What i got was a lengthy,hard to listen to,improvisational roller coaster ride that made me dizzy! Where's the celebration? If you came in to listen in the middle of any of the 13 cuts, you wouldn't identify any as a "Sinatra" tune. If your'e a fan of free-form,Improv jazz, you might like it. I came away duped, and very disappointed. I guess for "real" Sinatra, there isn't, or will there ever be,the real thing other than "The Chairman"! Just don't look in here to capture that magic!
    Nice 'N' Easy: Celebrating Sinatra
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Riddle-ean arrangements in Fine Multichannel
    		 Nice 'N' Easy: Celebrating Sinatra
    Frank Sinatra
    Manufacturer: Telarc
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B00005QZL9
    Release Date: 2001-10-23

    Tracks:

    1. Night and Day
    2. Zing Went the Strings of My Heart
    3. September in the Rain
    4. You and the Night and the Music
    5. I've Got You Under My Skin
    6. Let's Face the Music and Dance
    7. Summer Wind
    8. I Get Along Without You Very Well
    9. Nice 'N' Easy
    10. Lady Is a Tramp
    11. Get Happy
    12. What's New?
    13. I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You)
    14. Let Yourself Go
    15. You Are My Lucky Star
    16. Lisbon Antiqua
    17. Brother John
    18. Route 66

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Riddle-ean arrangements in Fine Multichannel.......2003-02-17

    This is a huge band (the Cint'i Pops Big Band) in full blown multichannel SACD. The arrangements are perfect, and the playing is nearly so. One can quibble as to whether a band this big can really swing, but this one does its darndest. There may be here a certain down-tempo leadfootedness, but it may be in my imagination only. One misses the voice part, carried here by the instruments, but the tunes are their own wonderful entities, on their own. The sound is pure Telarc, natural and relaxed. The sound is "sitting in the middle of the orchestra", which you either like or don't, depending on your personal preference. If your music system can sing out, with this SACD it will.

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