Plays Sinatra His Way

Personnel: Joey DeFrancesco (Hammond B-3 organ); Houston Person (tenor saxophone); Melvin Sparks (guitar); Byron Landham (drums).
Recorded at Van Gelder Recording Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on August 5, 1998.
Frank Sinatra's repertoire (like that of Ella Fitzgerald) was so vast that when musicians or singers wish to pay tribute, they can choose almost any American popular song of 1930-1955 and it would fit. Organist Joey DeFrancesco plays nine well-known standards on this date, some of which are more closely associated with Sinatra than others. Actually, the Sinatra connection is basically irrelevant, for DeFrancesco swings in his usual fashion. Teamed with tenor saxophonist Houston Person (who is up for the challenge), guitarist Melvin Sparks, and drummer Byron Landham, DeFrancesco rips through a very uptempo version of "Pennies from Heaven," adds soul to "Teach Me Tonight," cooks on "What Now My Love," is relatively relaxed on "Don't Worry 'Bout Me," and duets with Person on a sensitive version of "Angel Eyes." As usual on a Joey DeFrancesco date, everything works. ~ Scott Yanow