By the mid-50s Sinatra had well-and-truly resurrected his career, this time around consciously making a hard-swinging dance album. Nelson Riddle shows he can arrange the up-tempo stuff just as effectively the string-laden ballads on the previous album. It's not really jazz, but the album certainly showcases Sinatra at his swinging best.
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The Best of the Song Books Ella Fitzgerald 1956-64 [Verve]
Ella's famous songbook series for Norman Granz's Verve label made her a household name. The Cole Porter set that launched the series almost single-handedly kept Verve afloat for several years - with noted follow-ups covering material from Rodgers & Hart, the Gershwins, Duke Ellington and Irving Berlin. Hard to go past this one.
Popular opinion seems to regularly overlook Tormé's impeccable jazz credentials. Aside from his velvet singing voice, Tormé also held his own on drums and penned more than a few fine songs in his time as well. Here he takes a hard swinging approach to a set of Broadway standards, with a couple of slow ones thrown in for the romantics.
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Everybody's Boppin' Lambert, Hendricks & Ross 1961 [Columbia]
Great introductory set to the highly influential 'vocalese' trio. Vocalese is the art of setting established instrumental jazz solos to lyrics and singing them. Jon Hendricks is still recognised as the greatest ever vocalese lyricist. Worth it for the remake of Annie Ross' 'Twisted' alone - the CD release includes some superb bonus tracks.
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Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley 1962 [Capitol]
Not long after this record was made vocalist Wilson found commercial success in the pop and R&B markets, eventually ending up with her own variety show on American television. Here she teams with the Adderley brothers (Cannonball on alto sax) and pianist Joe Zawinul to produce her best pure jazz album. Cannonball is his usual brilliant self.
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Portrait Of Sheila Sheila Jordan 1962 [Blue Note]
After Portrait Jordan's unconventional vocal style led to a recording drought of more than a decade. It is, however, a stunning debut and one of the few vocal albums to be recorded by Blue Note at the time. Unobtrusive guitarist Barry Galbraith is the perfect accompaniment for Jordan's inventively cool tones and swinging standards.
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Sinatra At the Sands Frank Sinatra with the Count Basie Orchestra 1966 [Warner Reprise]
The majority of Sinatra's work is not generally regarded as jazz, but with Count Basie in support this one comes close. Sands was Sinatra's first live set to be released on record and, not unexpectedly, contains several of his better-known pop hits. Jazz enthusiasts, however, won't want to miss the delightfully melancholy 'One For My Baby'.
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Stone Flower Antonio Carlos Jobim 1970 [Epic/CTI]
With a host of topnotch jazz musicians in support, this is certainly the one Jobim album all aficionados should have. Although bossa nova records had long-since lost their popular appeal, Stone Flower is one of the sub-genre's certifiable classics. A simply beautiful record, expertly produced by Creed Taylor and engineered by Rudy Van Gelder.
