Frank Brommer

Hampton Hawes, “For Real!” was recorded in 1958 but not released on the Contemporary Records label until 1961. Featuring Hawes (piano) alongside Harold Land (tenor sax), Scott LaFaro (bass) and Frank Butler (drums) the album incudes a mixture of both jazz standards and originals. This new edition features remastered hi-res audio from the original tapes.

The Very Best of Frank Sinatra is a simple double-disc collection of 40 Sinatra classics from his Reprise Recordings. For casual fans wanting something more than the single-disc The Very Good Years but don't want the four-disc The Reprise Collection, The Very Best of Frank Sinatra is ideal, since it contains all of the true essentials he recorded during the '60s and '70s, including "Summer Wind," "Strangers in the Night," "My Way," "It Was a Very Good Year," and "Theme From New York, New York."

Even now, more than 22 years after his death, Francis Albert Sinatra is still one of the most immediately recognisable names in popular music. His catalogue is as immense as his influence is immeasurable, and there seems little doubt that his music will continue to impact on many future generations of record buyers.

These musical sketches dedicated to the American Southwest. A journey to magic powerspots deep in the Havasu Canyon, to ghost towns along the Turquoise Trail where time stands still. This spiritual journey merges with Frank's excellent instrumental abilities to compose a tender and moody piece of music with a very dense and gripping atmosphere. Sparingly used synthesizers add colour, the occasionally used percussion offers a gentle rhythmical hold and enhanced is the overall feeling of "well-being" by some brilliantly playing studio musicians on sax and live-percussion, adding a touch of sparkle where it is needed.

Frank Sinatra turned 80 in 1995, and Capitol released this two-disc "best of" in celebration. Sinatra's initial tenure at Capitol, which lasted from 1953 to 1962, is generally considered to be his artistic watermark. His voice and technique had improved considerably since his initial peak of popularity in the mid-'40s (the "swinging" phrasing most commonly associated with Sinatra's style really came to the fore during the Capitol years); he also had the good fortune to work with Nelson Riddle and Billy May, whose inventive arrangements certainly brought out the best in Sinatra's singing. This set's song selection is tough to argue with, but you'll really need to get all of Sinatra's Capitol albums to gauge the true measure of the man's artistry. ~ Dan Epstein