Re: Sinatra

[Lori Cahan-Simon <l_cahan...>]

Thanks for the correction, George.  I knew it was something like that.

I used to play in a band with three Italian brothers in Philly.  One day I
had the pleasure of hearing some VERY early records of Sinatra that their
father had purchased in his youth of Sinatra singing Italian songs.  I was
told that these were done before any of the American recordings.  Anyway,
his voice was *gorgeous*.  Anyone else heard these?

Lorele


George Robinson wrote:

> Actually, it was trombonist Tommy Dorsey and what Sinatra learned from
> him was breathing technique, how to sing long lines without pausing.
> Which makes good sense if you think, as many critics (myself among them)
> that among Sinatra's greatest strengths was his phrasing -- so much so
> that even when the intonation is less than perfect the results can be
> enthralling.
>
> George Robinson
>
> Lori Cahan-Simon wrote:
> >
> > I remember reading/hearing somewhere that Frank patterned his singing
> > after the saxophonist's style whom he worked with.  This could account
> > for some of his "off pitch" notes as an echo of the subtleties of the
> > instrument.  I know that when I sing I make use of microtonal
> > increments in many styles.  I believe that some of what we perceive as
> > "off" is intentional and blends well with the character of the music
> > being played.  Let us think back to the time when the klavier, for
> > example, was not well-tempered.
> >
> > Then again, we all sing and play "clams" every now and again.  ;-)
> >
> > Lorele
> >
> >
> > Lionel Mrocki & Karen Amos wrote:
> >
> > > David Baron wrote:
> > >
> > >> The whole point is that the human voice is not a digitally
> > >> controlled
> > >> synthesizer doing Sinatra samples. There is expression, quaver,
> > >> etc., and
> > >> this is what makes singing interesting (at least more so that
> > >> hitting MIDI
> > >> controller keys playing voice samples).
> > >>
> > >> Sinatra, even in later years, was, well .... a performer who
> > >> satisfied
> > >> several generations. He was a stylist. The arrangements, as
> > >> opposed to those
> > >> immitating swing and big band today (including those of Moshe
> > >> Lauffer, et
> > >> all), were impecable, never overpowering the singer. I am sick of
> > >> complaining to the sound man to turn down the band, cut the echo,
> > >> so I can
> > >> HEAR Mordechai Ben David or Avraham Fried. Such never happened
> > >> with Frankie!
> > >
> > > I agree.  I'm no passionate follower of Frankie's, but he had
> > > something magnetic about him personally and there was a romance and
> > > charm in his presentation that is the envy of many.
> > >
> > > There are countless recordings of artists where every line or every
> > > second word has had pitch correction treatment, disguising the
> > > deficiencies of the artist.  Somehow, when Frankie does it (misses
> > > pitch), he gets away with it almost like his voice is on a different
> > > plane to the accompaniment and he certainly doesn't "hold back" or
> > > lose confidence on the next line.
> > >
> > > I've listened to recordings of myself, and been a little surprised
> > > at the odd "off note". Sometimes its problems with foldback,
> > > sometimes too much mashke.
> > >
> > > Yes, we can point the finger at Frankie, but what's the motive?
> > >
> > > I wish I had half his natural talent!
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > Lionel Mrocki
> > >
> > > Visit <<http://www.klezmania.com.au>> for the latest information on
> > > KLEZMANIA;  Performance dates, Sound files, Photos and more.
> > >
> > > Visit <<http://www.alphalink.com.au/~amrocks/karenlionel.html>>
> > > to see our family.
> > >
> > >
>
> --
> "And it does no harm to repeat, as often as you can, 'Without
> me the literary industry would not exist: the publishers, the
> agents, the sub-agents, the sub-sub-agents, the accountants,
> the libel lawyers, the departments of literature, the professors
> the theses, the books of criticism, the reviewers, the book
> pages -- all this vast and proliferating edifice is because
> of this small, patronized, put-down and underpaid person.'"
>                         --Doris Lessing
>

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