Sinatra

Marcus Johnson · #1 05-04-2008, 06:59 PM

Hey all... TCM is showing "Sinatra.. A Man And His Music" ('64) today. It just played once and is up again later today. Nelson Riddle and Gordon Jenkins orchestras. Pretty cool. Lots of great bass content. I DVR'ed it.

Uncletoad · #2 05-06-2008, 09:13 PM

I finally got a chance to watch this thing. He's really something. Like that bass player right up front too.

By this time in his career he was already starting to fall apart. I didn't realize how early that happened. He lost his edge, started to swing less and just miss where in the 50's he was dead on all the time. By '65 he become the Vegas hag that Tony Bennett never did. It's funny how as he aged his voice didn't mature in the same way as Bennett. Bennett has always found a way to make emotional beauty with whatever his instrument would give him, even as it has diminished over time. I think Sinatra started a better singer but ended up as a caricature rather than the fine wine Bennett has become.

Who is the bass guy? Comfort?

He's killin. He's got his head buried in the chart and I can't see his face. God knows I'd be clinging to the bar lines too.

TV was so different in those days. At one point Frank turns away from the mic and clears his throat. They'd cut that out in 2008.

Paul Warburton · #3 05-07-2008, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

I finally got a chance to watch this thing. He's really something. Like that bass player right up front too.

By this time in his career he was already starting to fall apart. I didn't realize how early that happened. He lost his edge, started to swing less and just miss where in the 50's he was dead on all the time. By '65 he become the Vegas hag that Tony Bennett never did. It's funny how as he aged his voice didn't mature in the same way as Bennett. Bennett has always found a way to make emotional beauty with whatever his instrument would give him, even as it has diminished over time. I think Sinatra started a better singer but ended up as a caricature rather than the fine wine Bennett has become.

Who is the bass guy? Comfort?

He's killin. He's got his head buried in the chart and I can't see his face. God knows I'd be clinging to the bar lines too.

TV was so different in those days. At one point Frank turns away from the mic and clears his throat. They'd cut that out in 2008.

Hi honey Gene Chrinco. ( sorry that's Cherinco)
Sinatra was a MF

Paul Warburton · #4 05-07-2008, 04:34 AM

It"s easy to make those staments but the truth is Sinatra was a MF

Sam Sherry · #5 05-07-2008, 05:44 AM

Man, it is good to see you up in lights again, PW!

Uncletoad · #6 05-07-2008, 06:18 AM

Yes indeed Sinatra was a true MF and one of my all time favorites. His impact on my life is profound. One need only look to my son Vincent. Everything I sing to him comes from the Sinatra songbook. His babysitters and others sing him infantile junk. He only gets the best from his papa.

Good to see you Paul.

larry · #7 05-07-2008, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

Everything I sing to him comes from the Sinatra songbook. His babysitters and others sing him infantile junk. He only gets the best from his papa.

Lol. I expose my kids to all the jazz I can. I'll bet my 7 year old has heard more by now than the average adult has in his lifetime.

Yet they still find "Kidzbop" more entertaining.

Uncletoad · #8 05-07-2008, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larry

Yet they still find "Kidzbop" more entertaining.

Yea. I can't compete with Jack's Big Music Show either.

ZachDad · #9 05-07-2008, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

Yea. I can't compete with Jack's Big Music Show either.

Maybe we need Jazz puppets! lol But you will be surprised how much the music gets in them. Dad raised me on big band swing and after several rock n roll careers its still my most reliable favorite!

Uncletoad · #10 05-07-2008, 09:13 AM

Well Vincent did watch the Sinatra show both times I watched it...at least until he fell asleep halfway through. He loved it.

Paul Warburton · #11 05-07-2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Sherry

Man, it is good to see you up in lights again, PW!

Thanks Sam. Good to see you again AS well the Toad.

Don Higdon · #12 05-07-2008, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Hi honey Gene Chrinco. ( sorry that's Cherinco)
Sinatra was a MF

How acout Gene Chirico?
Welcome back, Wallbutton.

Marcus Johnson · #13 05-07-2008, 07:16 PM

Or possibly even Gene Cherico. All three of them were great.

At any rate, you can't tell from the vid, because on a Frank Sinatra show, unless You Are Frank, you are officially in soft focus in the background. It coulda been Loretta Young for all I could tell, even on my giant TV. Frank acknowledged Riddle and Jenkins right at the end, and trotted them out for a collective screen time of about 3.8 seconds, and then sent them both back to work. Talk about pecking order.

True what they say... It's good to be king.

PS... if you have the show on DVR, watch how many times these guys are picking up charts off the floor. Fifteen pounds of sheet music in an hour... we've all been there... but there's nothing like the feeling of scrambling for a chart on the floor when you're a double bassist.

**Damon Rondeau** · #14 05-07-2008, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

...but there's nothing like the feeling of scrambling for a chart on the floor when you're a double bassist.

Man that's awkward. You can't put down the bass so there you are squatting with one arm up holding the bass and the other arm down scrabbling around on the ground...

Roger Mouton · #15 05-08-2008, 04:43 PM

Marcus got it right. It was Gene Cherico but there were a lot of other bassists to play with Sinatra. Jim Hughart and Chuck Berghofer have both written about what it was like to play with Sinatra........not easy but they valued the experience.