Swingin' with Sinatra

Personnel: Beegie Adair (piano); Chris Brown (drums).
Recording information: Wildwood Recording, Brentwood, TN.
On her "jazz piano tribute to Frank Sinatra," Beegie Adair addresses 12 songs performed at one time or another by Sinatra. They range from actual signature songs (Kander & Ebb's "New York, New York") to songs specially written for Sinatra ("Nice `N Easy," "Come Fly with Me"), all the way to songs he just happened to have recorded, even if they weren't particularly associated with him ("Just in Time," which, if anything, is known more for Sinatra pal Dean Martin's version, since he sang it in the film Bells Are Ringing, or for Tony Bennett, who had a chart single with it). In any case, the songs provide a good means for Adair, along with her rhythm section, to present swing arrangements centering on her piano. As a jazz musician, Adair doesn't tend to get far away from the melodies of the songs, although she does add all sorts of ornamentation. Actually, among her many albums, this one has a higher improvisatory component than most. But it's still basically high-quality cocktail jazz with a focus on Sinatra. ~ William Ruhlmann