UK based Acrobat Records came up with the clever idea of putting together material that is associated with Frank Sinatra, but selecting versions of songs like “Lean Baby,” “Witchcraft” and “Angel Eyes” by some of the finest of mainstream artists. Even better, almost all of the material is recorded during the halcyon days of both Ol’ Blue Eyes and jazz, namely the 50s and 60s.
Highlights have to include the bel canto big toned mourning of Dexter Gordon on “I Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out To Dry” and a moving “One For My Baby” by Wes Montgomery with Hank Jones. Miles Davis is with his first classic quintet as he pulls out his Harmon mute for “Sposin” while his “I Thought About You” with Hank Mobley from a few years later is simply pastoral.
There are a few obscure gems as well. Bill Perkins delivers a haunting “Angel Eyes” and the two tenor team of Paul Quinichette with Charlie Rouse get things going on “The Tender Trap” with Illinois Jacquet swinging warmly on “Lean Baby.” This two disc set is a gem, and it doesn’t even make you want to hear the versions from the Chairman himself; these are wonderful in their own right.