by Scott Yanow
Recorded two years before Frank Sinatra's death, Carol Sloane's tribute set features the talented veteran singer interpreting 13 songs that were associated with Sinatra. On five selections, the vocalist is assisted by pianist Bill Charlap, bassist Sean Smith, drummer Ron Vincent and Frank Wess on tenor and flute. "You Make Me Feel So Young" is a duet with Charlap, while the remaining six numbers match Sloane with a nonet; there are individual solos on those numbers from trumpeter Greg Gisbert, Scott Robinson on baritone and bass saxes and (on "You Go to My Head") trombonist Steve Turre. Sloane happily does not try to emulate Sinatra and instead provides fairly fresh interpretations to such songs as "I've Got You Under My Skin," "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning," "The Night We Called It a Day" and even "One for My Baby." A highly enjoyable and successful effort by Carol Sloane, whose recordings of the 1990s ranked with the finest of her career.