The CD opens with a really good rendition of “I’ll Remember
April,” a song written by Gene de Paul, Patricia Johnston, and Don Raye. This
version has a good groove, and some nice work on drums by Buddy Williams, as
well as wonderful work on guitar. Sinatra released his version as
a single, and also included it on his Point
Of No Return album.
One of Frank Sinatra’s most famous recordings is his version
of “It Was A Very Good Year,” a song written by Ervin Drake and originally
recorded by The Kingston Trio. Sinatra included it on his 1965 record September Of My Years, and his recording
won him a Grammy. Lou Volpe’s rendition has more of a pronounced groove at the
beginning, and some nice work by Leo Traversa on bass. There is also some nice
interplay between guitar and keyboard, and then approximately halfway through
there is a really cool and interesting section that makes me think of whales
singing this tune. You’ll know what I’m talking about when you hear it. And Lou
Volpe’s guitar really shines on the following track, “You Go To My Head.”
But one of my favorite tracks is Lou Volpe’s rendition of
“A Foggy Day,” a song composed by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, and
originally recorded by Fred Astaire. It was included on many Frank Sinatra
records, including Songs For Young Lovers
and Ring-A-Ding-Ding! As for Volpe’s
version, in addition to some great work on guitar, this one features some
excellent work on keys by Mel Davis. It does feel odd that it fades out, but
that’s all right. You can never go wrong with Gershwin. Another song that
Sinatra included on several records is “One For My Baby,” written by Harold
Arlen and Johnny Mercer. Lou Volpe gives it a bluesy edge from the start, and
his rendition isn’t nearly as mellow as many versions such as Sinatra’s version
from Only The Lonely.
Another song that Sinatra really made famous is “That’s
Life,” which was written by Dean Kay and Kelly Gordon, and originally recorded
by Marion Montgomery. Lou Volpe’s rendition doesn’t have the same energy as
Sinatra’s, and has a more bluesy feel, but still works well. “The Best Is Yet
To Come” is another song closely associated with Frank Sinatra, though again
other artists recorded it before he did. On this CD, Volpe gives it a bit of a
bossa nova feel, with Gary Fritz on percussion. As a side note, “The Best Is
Yet To Come” is the last song Frank Sinatra performed.
I love what Lou Volpe does with “All The Things You Are,”
picking up the pace, his guitar flying over the wonderful groove by Leo
Traversa on bass and Buddy Williams on drums. This is a total treat, and one of
my personal favorite tracks. “All The Things You Are” was written by Jerome
Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II. The CD ends with “Europa,” which was written by
Carlos Santana, and is the one tune here not to have been recorded by Frank
Sinatra. It is one of Santana's most famous compositions, and Lou Volpe delivers it as a guitar solo, dedicating it “to the Brilliance of Frank.”
CD Track List
- I’ll Remember April
- Speak Low
- It Was A Very Good Year
- You Go To My Head
- A Foggy Day
- One For My Baby
- Days Of Wine And Roses
- That’s Life
- Softly As I Leave You
- The Best Is Yet To Come
- I Get A Kick Out Of You
- All The Things You Are
- I’ve Got You Under My Skin
- Europa
Remembering Ol’
Blue Eyes is scheduled to be released on November 6, 2015 on Jazz Guitar
Records.
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