The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/30393
Vinyl Vault Frank Sinatra with the Red Norvo Quintet ‘Live in Australia, 1959’ By the end of the ’50s, Frank Sinatra was one of the richest, most successful enter- tainers in the world. Despite his enormous success, problems began to emerge between the singer and his record label. Despite being at the peak of his career, his relation- ship with Capitol Records was beginning to fray as he began to feel as if he was losing creative control of the recording process. By 1959, Sinatra wanted to make a change. He envisioned working with a small jazz combo, becoming not the singer, but an integral part in the band, improvising, altering, presenting his music as ever-evolving pieces rather than as recitals of hit songs in front of faceless big bands. Throughout the winter and spring of ’59, Sinatra enlisted the Red Norvo Quintet to learn his song catalogue and begin to rehearse. At the end or March, they began a small tour of Australia, presenting the music of Frank Sinatra in a way that Sinatra never could have accomplished with a big band. Upon their return to the States, Sinatra learned that due to contractual obliga- tions, he would be unable to record with the Quintet, and by the end of the year, they had played together for the last time. In 1997, Blue Note unexpectedly released the Australia tapes after significant restora- tion work. Recorded during two concerts Mother’s Day Brunch Holiday Inn Oneonta Sunday, May 8th, 2011 12pm - 4:30pm Mediterranean Scrambled Eggs Belgian Waffle Station Waf Wood Buffet Includes: Alaskan Benedict anean Apple-Wood Smoked Bacon Sliced Corned Beef Turkey London Broil Seafood Fra Diavolo Stuffed Zucchini Wild Rice Pilaf Fresh Florida Corn-on-the Cobthe-Cob A Springtime Salad Bar Fresh Fruit Salad Yogurt Bar Assorted Breads and Artisan Rolls ...And A Variety of Delicious Desserts Also Featuring These Kid-Frieniendly Dishes: dly Cheddar Scrambled Eggs, Grilled Quarter Pounders, BBQ Chicken Drumsticks and Buttered Corn. Mothers Enjoy a Complimentary Mimosa or Bloody Mary Adults $22 Seniors $17 Children $9 An 18% Gratuity and an 8% State Tax will be added to all checks. Call for Reservations: 607.433.2250 5206 State Highway 23 Oneonta, NY 13820 www.hioneo eonta.com featuring... Directed by JACK GARDNER Musical Direcon by TIM IVERSEN MICHAEL VALINOTI - MARK DURKEE - SARAH LYNN SERAFIN OWEN AYRE - CAROL DEAN - KEVIN MURRAY - JAMES IVERSEN April 28, 2011 O-Town Scene 27 Choreographed by MICHELLE GARDNER … and others! Music by Jule Styne Lyrics by Bob Merill Book by Peter Stone presents ... Sinatra is on his game here, improvising lyrics, telling hilarious anecdotes and delivering deadpan witticisms to rapturous applause. _ on March 31 and April 1, 1959, at the West Melbourne Stadium. This album gives the listener an image of Sinatra not visible on the glossy Capitol albums. The quintet uses the original song arrangements as mere landmarks, giving Sinatra room to control the direction of the songs, letting him improvise and work with the band on an equal level. While the first half of the performance is a breathless set of his great Capitol songs, his rapport with the audience in the second half is what makes this record a delight. Sinatra is on his game here, improvising lyrics, telling hilarious anecdotes and delivering deadpan witticisms to rapturous applause. As the set progresses, he begins to work even harder with the band, pushing his voice, pushing his songs, and pushing his musicians to work even harder. One can only wonder what recordings could have come from this group. Despite the incredible amount of documen- tation on Sinatra’s career, his work with the Red Norvo Quintet nearly vanished, only to be rescued four decades later. Sinatra’s “Live In Australia, 1959” is that rare artifact, a glimpse of where Sinatra hoped and planned to go artistically had his troubles with Capitol not interfered. Though he later went on to work with with acclaimed jazz combos in the mid 1960s, “Live In Australia, 1959” is a work by an artist in his prime pushing himself creatively in a bold new direction, something he is certainly not known for. It is easy to stereotype Frank Sinatra as a stodgy middle- of-the-road crooner. Let this record change your mind. _ James Derek Sapienza James Derek Sapienza is a 25-year-old musi- cian and artist. His re- cord collection contains more than 1,000 LPs and singles, which he has been collecting since he was 8 years old.