Tommy Dorsey

Double-headed commemorations this time of year, the centenary of Tommy Dorsey (9.11.1905) and the 90th birthdate of Frank Sinatra (12.12.1915) both linked musically and memorably.

Plenty of CDs, and at car boot sales LPs featuring Tommy and Frank, you might even come across the Reprise outlet in which Frank recalled trombonist boss Tommy, and a massive Centenary Collection for Tommy Dorsey from Pulse - the latter a fabulous forty-eight set.

Great standards here, including Tommy Dorsey?s popular signature theme: I'm Getting Sentimental Over You (1935), through Irving Berlin's Marie (1937), The Continental (1933); super swing shots courtesy of arranger-composer Sy Oliver: Opus One (1945) and Well Get It! (1945).
 
Sidesmen as well as arrangers became famous singled out by trombonist playing leader with fantastic breath control and techniques; among famous names find Bunny Berigan, Pee Wee Irwin, Charlie Shavers, Ziggy Elman, drummer Buddy Rich, and piano man ;Joe Bushkin. Arranger Paul Weston married and teamed up with on record female Dorsey vocalist, Jo Stafford.
 
Meantime co-hort for Frank Sinatra was another Dorsey luminary, arranger Axel Stordahl. His partnership when Sinatra left Dorsey is the stuff of marvelous recordings many of them made for Columbia, 'though Frank used Axel on one of his Capitol albums.
 
Much of Frank Sinatra on view all over:: CDs. DVDs and Video, a lot of eye-catching and much valued merchandise Now to top them all a massive coffee-table tribute to the Life and Time, music and movies of Sinatra (DorlingKindersley ). Author Richard Havers, and his careful, excellent team have compiled a most absorbing assemblage. It will make the perfect Christmas book.
 
Rarely has there been such precise explorative - amid a plethora of breathtaking pictures charting a wonderful career that still lives on through audio and video. Also, from the Sinatra back catalogue of scintillating song it would be no surprise if one or other of his standard songs came in for a top ten airing. What a find up-coming generations have on tap.
 
Great also to relive again a 'day-by-day' section to quote the title of popular Jule Styne-Sammy Cahn song. Mapped in chronological order makes this great compendium both gratifying and amazing. Times, dates, songs sung, performed and/or recorded. The book's full credits, index and thanks alone merely shows one and all Richard Havers' love and so generous attitude for and to his devoted subject. 
 
This Treasure-laden volume akin to the great entertainer himself: complete, enjoyable, very much valued. I just love it. Like the man himself, this book is 'one of a kind'.

Neil Stevens