Search - Mike Smith :: Sinatra Songbook

Excellent Tribute To "The Voice"

Robert J. Ament | Ballwin, MO United States | 01/26/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As can be guessed from the title, these are all standards performed by an excellent quartet led by alto saxist Mike Smith who was lead behind Sinatra for six years. One could extrapolate from that fact alone that he has to be a terrific player. His playing shows some influence by Cannonball Adderley and on a ballad, you can tell he also paid great attention to Sinatra's delivery as exemplified by "Nancy with the Laughing Face" and "Only the Lonely", the only cut on which he plays soprano sax."All or Nothing at All" leads off with a Latin beat showing that this is a first class rhythm section also. "I Get a Kick Out of You" is done at about the same tempo as the Sinatra recording and shows Smith's improvisational skills as well as his fluid and flawless execution at a faster tempo. My only regret was that this was the briefest tune of the set and I wanted more time for him to stretch out.All in all, this is a real listening delight if you like the music of Sinatra, fine quartet jazz, an excellent alto saxist, or fine standards......in any or all of these combinations!"