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Did you love Chapter Eight? How ‘bout the mini-concert with Lady Ella? Talk about lightening in a bottle!
To me, this moment from Frank’s 1967 television special, Sinatra: A Man and his Music + Ella + Jobim, is a seminal moment in the history of this music form.
Both artists are at the absolute top of their game. And both are blessed to be supported by Nelson Riddle’s brilliant arranging.
This precious gem of a collaboration is the ultimate master class in style, stance and polish. Truly, the best of the best.
Because of time constraints, we only ran a portion of it. But the entire duet is available.
Grab the Shout Factory video, Sinatra: A Man and His Music: The collection.
Sinatra: A Man and his Music + Ella + Jobim is included in this wonderful set.
And watch for one particular and precious close-up of FS. His sense of marvel and wonder as he watches Ella scat is undeniable. It that tells us all we need to know about Frank’s respect for his partner in song. It is, at once, delightful and endearing.
What a pair!
WHAT’S NEXT
This product of the big band era understood that adding strings meant greater variety of mood. Even as a boy singer, “Frankie” lobbied for strings. And, because of his immense popularity in that band, Frank’s boss, Tommy Dorsey, yielded.
The love affair with strings was life-long, as you shall hear when we open Chapter Nine of The Sinatra Songbook, Saturday November 16 at 6pm and Sunday, November 17 at 8am (those are Eastern times) exclusively on Metromedia Radio. Listen Live link
http://tunein.com/radio/Metromedia-Radio-s203898/
PRICES HAVE GONE UP
In the Sinatraphile Yahoo group, scholar Ed O’Brien wrote about Frank’s 1955 recording of “The Man with the Golden Arm”. The details of the event amused me. Here are some of the highlights of Ed’s research.
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM
Capitol / KHJ Studios – 10.31.55
Arranged and conducted by Elmer Bernstein, 25 piece orchestra
The Man With The Golden Arm Time – 3:21
Otto Preminger, Kim Novak and others associated with the film were at the session. Meant for the film trailer, the Cahn & Van Heusen song was not released and the famous Bernstein jazz instrumental recorded on 10-28-55 with a 17-piece orchestra was used. Elmer Bernstein conducted and played piano.
Bernstein was paid $96.42 for his work with Sinatra. Robert S. Helfer was the manager. He was paid the royal sum of $72.32 for his three hours of work.
The musicians were paid $48.21 each. The violinist, David Frisina, was the concertmaster at the session. Bill Miller was the pianist, Shelly Manne on drums, Ralph Pena on bass, Howard Roberts on guitar and Harry “Sweets” Edison played the trumpet.
The entire pay out for the session was $1,398.10.
to be continued…
PLEASE NOTE
THE SINATRA SONGBOOK premiered in 1974. Yours truly and this radio series are not affiliated with the group on Facebook that carries this name.