Frankly: A Tribute To Sinatra (Instrumental)

Album review

When Frank Sinatra died in 1998, it was inevitable that countless artists would come out with tribute albums, some of which reeked of cheap, grave-robbing exploitation. Per Goldschmidt, however, was among those insightful enough to pay tribute to Sinatra when he was still alive. It was in 1993 (several years before Sinatra's death) that the baritone saxman recorded his excellent tribute album Frankly. Joined by trumpeter Tom Harrell, pianist Niels Lan Doky, bassist Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen and drummer Alvin Queen, Goldschmidt provides passionate hard bop interpretations of some of the songs that Sinatra defined (including "Fly Me to the Moon," "You Make Me Feel So Young" and "Come Fly With Me"), along with some original material. The baritonist himself wrote the bluesy "Frankly Speaking," the exuberant "Second to None" and the dusky ballad "Theme for Eve," all of which work well alongside classics associated with Old Blue Eyes. Recorded in Copenhagen, Frankly is among the few Goldschmidt dates that has come out on an U.S. label -- it's too bad American listeners haven't had more exposure to the captivating improviser.

© Alex Henderson /TiVo