You can listen to recordings he did with the Ellington Orchestra, the Basie Band, and Red Norvo. I don't think they are qualitatively better. It's not jazz in the sense that Billie sang with the Basie band and small groups in the 30s. It's pop. You have to take it for what it is. Sinatra's not a jazz singer in the sense that, say, Billy Eckstine is. The Riddle and Stohrdahl machines, also the beefier Billy May Orch that he sometimes played with, are just right.
Btw, they worked well the jazz singers too. Riddle accompanied Ella on a lot of the Songbooks and other records, and she was another singfer who could ask for the orchestra she wanted. The Riddle recordings -- with him playing jazz -- are just as as good as her Ellington Songbook, recorded with the Duke -- a big concession for me since I live, breathe, eat, and drink Ellington.
jks
--- joanna bujes <jbujes at covad.net> wrote:
> Miles writes:
>
> "Maybe I'm reading intenton where there is none, but
> I always
> thought the "bland band" was used to highlight
> Frankie's
> interesting phrasing. If the arrangement was as
> interesting
> as Frankie's vocals, it would draw attention away
> from
> Frankie, and I can't imagine he would have been too
> enthusiastic about that."
>
> You may be right. But still I think that if Sinatra
> had had a chance to sing with a band who could talk
> back to him, the way Billie's bands sometimes talked
> back to her, he would have risen to the occasion and
> we'd all be happier for it.
>
> Joanna
>
>
>
> ___________________________________
>
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